Big 6

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Big 6 Writing

• Wilkes County Schools

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Big 6

• The Big 6 represents the stages for solving
  information problems. It represents a flow from
• Beginning (What do I need to do? What is the
  task?)
• Middle (Find information books online )
• End ( Final draft of research writing)

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Step 1 Task Definition(What Do I Need To Do?)

• What is the problem or task to be solved
• (What does the teacher want me to do?)
• Write out a statement of the task (what task is)
• Pick out keywords in a question
• Understand and follow printed oral directions
• Write appropriate questions that you want
  answered in your writing

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Step 2 Information Seeking Strategies(What
Resources Do I Use?)

• Seek a variety of materials.
• Figure out which information is most important.
• Information can be gathered from many sources
  (books, articles, reports, interviews,
  observations)
• Use appropriate criteria for selecting sources

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Step 3 Location and Access(Where Can I Find
the Resources?)

• Determine what sources are available
• Independently gather resources
• (Use questions that were generated in step 1)
• Determine if the source is usable
• Access appropriate information systems

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Step 4 Use of Information(What Can I Use From
the Resources?)

• Use facts not opinions
• Take careful notes
• Accurately and completely summarize the main idea
  from sources
• Cite sources correctly
• Read, listen, view carefully to find information

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Step 5 Synthesis(What Can I Do to Complete My
Task?)

• Organize information in clear, logical way (a way
  that makes sense)
• Present information in ways appropriate to the
  task
• Produce personally designed products to
  communicate content
• Encourage the development of critical thinking
  skills
• No plagiarism (Cite sources!)

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Step 6 Evaluation(How Did I Do?)

• Proofread the writing for completeness,
  strengths, and weaknesses
• Provide recommendations to improve the writing
• Determine if more information is needed (more
  support elaboration)
• Time for personal reflection on the writing
• Importance of rubrics

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County-Wide Research Model

• Being integrated into our county beginning with
  kindergarteners
• Practice using the Big 6 terminology when giving
  various tasks and assignments
• Talk students through the process for a
  particular assignment
• Not a new initiative

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Familiar Research Method

• http//www.kyvl.org/kids/homebase.html

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Example

• A 7th grade science class is studying rocks.
  Students are required to demonstrate their
  knowledge by preparing a special project that
  show what they learned about the type of rocks
  and how they were formed.

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The Big 6 in Action
Big 6 Student Activities
Task Definition Distinguish between three main rock types.
Information Seeking Strategies Brainstorm sources that are print and non-print.
Location Access Strategies Visit Media Center. List available resources.
Use of Information Lab Notes Outside investigations
Synthesis Data chart, collections, posters, presentation, etc
Evaluation Rubric, self-evaluation, evaluation of process
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Big 6 Practice
Student Activities B6
One group creates a computer quiz in PowerPoint
The class discusses which of the tests were hard and why
The teacher explains that students will be working in groups and the assignment is to make a test for others
The students brainstorm about different types of resources
One group decides that it wants some more information and accesses the Internet
Students take notes from three books in the media center

• Students in a 6th grade music class are studying
  note and rest values.

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Wilkes County Resources

• http//www.wilkes.k12.nc.us/currick8/default.html
• http//wcsbig6writing.pbworks.com/