How can I write an effective research paper?

1. How can I write an effective research paper? By Eisenberg and Berkowitz Adapted by Anne West

2. RESEARCH SYNTHESIS Task Definition Information Essential Question Strategies Evaluation Location and Access Supporting Question

4. What is ?How can it help me with writing a research paper? • Six step process to help us get our thoughts organized for our research project. • 1. Task Definition • 2. Information Seeking Strategies • 3. Location and Access • 4. Use of Information • 5. Synthesis of Information • 6. Evaluation

5. Big 6 #1 Task Definition • Defining your topic • What am I supposed to do? • Choosing a topic • Creating an Essential Question • Research the broad topic and find a specific area that interests you. • Formulating supporting questions • Research online databases to help you develop supporting questions. • My Questions should be: • explaining, stating relationships, and comparing and contrasting • predicting, hypothesizing, inferring, or reconstructing • valuing, judging, defending, or justifying choices(1) • A research paper shouldn’t just consist of facts on the subject. It should reflect your original thoughts based upon logical conclusions and complete research. (1.) http://www.sasaustin.org/library/ResearchPaperOrganizer.htm.)

6. Big 6 #2: Information Seeking Strategies • What are my sources of Information? Sources?... • Print – books, textbooks, newspapers, magazines, journals • Subscription Databases – Grolier, Galileo • Websites – Only those found through approved sources or how will I evaluate my website? • People – interviews • Which of these sources are best for the type of information I need?

7. Big 6 #3: Location & Access • Where and how will I locate information? • School library, public library • Internet – where do I have access? • Card catalog – books and web sites • Do I need passwords for the subscription databases? • Keyword list • Who will help me? – Mrs. West

8. Big 6 #4 Use of Information • How will I record the information that I find? • Take notes on note cards, notebook paper • Create a two column word document – copy and paste into the left column; put it in my words in the right column • Take notes using a graphic organizer • Take pictures or videotape or audiotape an interview

9. Big 6 #4, Use of Information • How will I give credit to my sources? • Bibliography cards • Citation Machine • Noodle Tools

10. Big 6 #5, Synthesis • Compile my results • How will I show what I found out? • Written paper • Power Point presentation • Presentation Board • Brochure, Newsletter • Oral presentation • How will I give credit to my sources in my final paper? • Works Cited Page • Tell about them

11. Timeline • Topic/Essential/Supporting questions Due by___________________ • Note taking due by ____________ • Rough Draft due by ___________ • Final Project due by ___________

12. Big 6 #6, Evaluation • What kind of job did I do? • Did I answer my essential question in a thoughtful manner? • Did I represent someone else’s work as my own? • Did I include a bibliography and a title page? • Did I check for spelling and grammar mistakes? • What would I do differently next time?

13. Summarize • What is the Big 6? • How can it help me with writing a research paper? • Ticket Out the Door: • Use the organizer and work with a partner to see how close you can come to completing it with the 6 steps of the Big 6 research project. • You will get your organizer back tomorrow so put your name on it.

14. Bibliography • Classroom Connect, Citing Internet Resources. [Online] 19, April, 2005. http://www.classroom.com/community/connection/howto/citeresources.jhtml. • St. Andrews Episcopal School, The Big 6 Research Paper Organizer. 19, April, 2005. http://www.sasaustin.org/library/ResearchPaperOrganizer.htm. • The Big 6, Information Literacy for the Information Age: Lessons. 19, April, 2005. http://big6.com/showcategory.php?cid=19