No, the intelligent six
pack isn't about
alcohol and wild parties...its about
RESEARCH! The intelligent six pack refers to the BIG SIX. The Big Six
is a research model that makes your research projects easy and earns
you
a great grade, so let's get started.
Research! No, it isn't a dirty word but sometimes it can be
overwhelming if we don't break it down into workable parts. The Big Six
takes away the mystique of research and makes it doable. So, what are
the steps?
Steppin'
The Big Six narrows the research process into SIX MAIN STEPS. The six
steps are:
1. Task Definition
2. Information Seeking Strategies
3. Location and Access
4. Use of Information
5. Synthesis
6. Evaluation
Now, let's look at the Big Six steps and investigate each one closely
so that the mystery of research is forever solved! You can use our
handy guide below or use the
official interactive site for the Big Six
Step One: Task Definition
In this first step, you are asking yourself, "What is the problem that
I have to solve through doing my research?" Has your teacher
given you a topic to investigate? Do you understand what the assignment
of this topic really means? Has your teacher given you guidelines for a
research assignment but not a specific topic? Have you been told that
you are to investigate a topic that is of interest to you? Look
at the example below.
Your social studies teacher has announced that a portion of your grade
in the class will be determined by creating a project for the history
fair. The theme for the history fair is "Taking a Stand in
History: People, Ideas and Events".
Has the teacher in this scenario given you a specific subject to
investigate or are you to use the theme as a guideline for your
research?
In this situation, the choice of person, idea or event can be decided
upon by the student. The student will determine, through
research, how a specific person, idea or event embodied
"taking a stand". Now the student can decide on:
1. What does it mean to "take a stand"?
2. Who would be an example of a person who has taken a stand? What
would be an example of an idea or event that embodied taking a stand?
These two questions will help you begin an overview of
your topic and determine key words.
You may also want to use the KWHL method to
further assist you in preparation for Step Two.
Step Two: Information Seeking Strategies
Step Two of the Big Six is very important. When you have an overview of
your topic (this will give you some idea of possible subtopics and
areas that might lead you to the best possible research results) , it
is time to determine what possible resources for your research. Using
the example of the history fair project, you might decide that you
would like to investigate Rosa Parks and her contribution to the Civil
Rights Movement. What resources might you use?
1. Encyclopedias
2. Biographies
3. Online databases
4. Reliable Web sites
5. Primary Sources
6. Archived newspapers and magazines
7. Historical periodicals
When you have generated a list of possible resources, decide which ones
would be the most readily available to you and you will be ready to
move on to Step Three.
Step Three: Location and Access
This step has two parts. First,look at the list of your possible
resources that you listed in Step Two. In the example, you are
researching Rosa Parks and decided that you will need biographies. You
would need to check your library online catalog, WebCat. In WebCat,
you can search for print, E-Book and audiovisual materials on your
topic that are available not only at HCHS but other schools in the
Northside Independent School District. If the print or
audiovisual material is not at HCHS but is located at another school,
simply ask the librarian to request that the material be sent to HCHS.
Don't forget about reliable online resources such as educational Web
sites, government supported Web sites, and online databases.
Beside each resource, note where it is located or how you can retrieve
it.
The second part of this step is to actually find your
resources and, using the key words you have generated, begin
looking through the resources and noting where the information is
located.
Step Four: Use the Information
Again, this is a two part process. You will need view, read or
listen to the resources that you have located in Step 3. The it's time
to take notes.
You will be looking for relevant information for your topic and cite
its source.
Step Five: Synthesis
In this step, you will begin to organize
the information that you have found from all of your sources. You will
need to decide what format works the best for you for this process. For
example, you might want to create an outline or, perhaps, a graphic
organizer like Inspiration. After you organize the information, you
will determine the best way to present your data. In some cases, your
teacher may have already told you to write a traditional research paper
or create a Power Point presentation. A teacher may also leave
the decision of the mode of presentation to you, so you will need to
determine which format best showcases your research. In either case,
your teacher will have given you guidelines to follow, so be SURE that
you meet the criteria outlined in those guidelines.
Step Six: Evaluation
This is one of the MOST
important steps in the Big 6. When you have completed your project,
you will ask yourself two major questions:
1. Did I follow the guidelines that were set by my teacher for this
assignment?
2. Did I complete each step of the Intelligent Six Pack?
Now we are ready to investigate the resources that you will need to do
effective research.
Primary,
Secondary and
Tertiary Sources, Oh My! What is a primary source? Is it a resource for
preschool kids? Let's learn about primary sources and why an instructor
or later, a professor, might require you to use a primary source.
What about secondary sources? Is that information that high school
students can use? When can you use a secondary source? Let's
investigate this option.
Finally, what are tertiary sources? It almost sounds like something
scientific, but actually, this term refers to some very common tools
used for research.
Health Careers High School Library has a subscription to
bibliograpy generator entitled Noodletools.
Noodletools will help you cite your sources correctly and even type
your works cited page for you.
