Research Organizers

The Big6

The IMC fosters independent readers, thinkers, and researchers through collaboration with teaching staff on research projects. The Big 6 is one formula to use when planning, implementing, and completing research. The six steps are:

  • Task Definition: What is my problem/assignment? How can I complete this task?
  • Information Seeking Strategies: How can I get my information? Brainstorm the needed resources. Select the best ones.
  • Location and Access: Where can I find this information? Locate the resources you have selected. They may be in the classroom, at home, or in our school library. Remember to use a diverse selection of resources.
  • Use of Information: What can I use from this information? Choose the relevant information from your source. Double check for accuracy.
  • Syntheses: What can I make to show what I learned? Organize and present the information you have gleaned from various sources. Choose your own format or use the presentation format assigned by your teacher.
  • Evaluation: How will I know I did my job well? Check over your work carefully. Have you completed research in all the assigned areas? Is your work grammatically correct. How is your spelling? Is this your best work, or can you improve it before handing it in?

The Super3

The Super3 is a lower school version of the Big6. The easy to follow steps are:

    I. Beginning: Before doing the project, think about it.
        A. What am I supposed to do?
        B. What will it look like if I do a really good job?
        C. What do I need to find out to do the job?
               
    II. Middle: Do the work for the project.
        A. Read
        B. View
        C. Tell
        D. Make a Picture

    III. End: Before handing the project in, think---
        A. Is this complete?
        B. Did I do what I was supposed to do?
        C. Do I feel alright about this job?
        D. Should I do something else before I turn it ?
The organizers are available online. Click Big6 or Super3 to access them.