Mary E. Brown, Ph.D., Professor
Information Science

Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515

Department of Information and Library Science
Fax: 1.203.392-5780 / Phone: 1.203.392-5781
Toll Free: 1-888-500-SCSU, then press 4

Before you begin writing a paper or a response to an assignment, you should carefully consider the task you are being asked to complete and devise a strategy for tackling that task and assessing the product before it is submitted for grading. We view writing tasks as information tasks. This module will introduce you to one of the most widely-known and used approaches to tackling information tasks in the world.

The Big6 is the most widely-known and -used approach to teaching information and technology skills in the world. It is used in thousands of higher education institutions, K-12 schools, and corporate and adult training programs. The Big6 information problem-solving process can be used whenever people need and use information, whether for writing a term paper for class, writing an executive summary for the organization's president, or planning a party for friends.

Big Six Skills provide a systematic approach to information problem-solving that relies upon critical thinking skills. The Big Six is a problem solving model that students can use to successfully complete any homework assignment, research paper or classroom project in any subject area. Big6 can also be used to solve business and life problems.

The steps in the Big Six approach to information problem-solving are:

1. Task Definition
   1. Define problem
   2. Identify requirement of the problem
2. Information-seeking Strategies
   1. Determine range of possible sources
   2. Select best sources
3. Locate and Access Information
   1. Locate sources
   2. Find information within sources
4. Use Information
   1. Engage information in sources
   2. Extract information from sources
5. Synthesis
   1. Organize information from multiple sources
   2. Present information
6. Evaluation
   1. Judge the product (effectiveness)
   2. Judge information problem-solving (efficiency)

This is an example of how to use the Big6 to draft a paper in five days. The six steps (plus a reader option) is spread over one week (Monday through Friday). We will begin with an assignment given on Monday and show how to use the Big Six process to write a short (2-3 page) paper by Friday.

Steps One and Two (Monday)

1. Select a topic. [Example: Designing healthy cities] Define the topic by rewriting it as a question. [Example: Would communities designed with a greater emphasis on health be much different from American communities now being built?]
2. List the information you will need to find. [Example: perception of health and disease; physical factors of health; biochemical factors of health; socioeconomic factors of health; psychological factors of health; economic factors of health; models for unhealthy communities; models for healthy communities.]
3. List possible sources. [Example: health professionals, newspaper articles, conference proceedings, books.]
4. Select the best sources. [Example: select the sources to which you have access, seem to be written for relatively easy understanding, and are in your budget means]

Steps Three and Four (Tuesday)

1. Locate sources, including through finding appropriate subject headings. [Example: items found using the subject headings City planning -- Health aspects; Urban health.]
2. Find information within each source. [Example: use the table of contents, back of the book index, skimming to find promising passages.]
3. Engage information in the source. [Example: compare information to research question to determine if it can give background to the question, help answer an aspect of the question, demonstrate problems that are associated with finding an answer.]
4. Extract information from multiple sources. [Example: using notetaking*, highlighting photocopies, constructing charts and tables.]

*Notetaking can be problematic for some people. There are other options. Notetaking is just one technique of a larger set called GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS. Other techniques include: Concept Maps, Thinking Grids, and Cluster Diagrams. Other techniques can be found at Index of Graphic Organizers (click on a name to go to an explanation of the technique).

Step Five (Wednesday)

1. Organize information (notes) from the various sources into a logical sequence, perhaps following an outline format.
2. Write a draft linking the various pieces of information into a coherent telling.
3. Revise the draft for a better telling/reading. It is difficult to find every improvement in just one reading and editing session. It is strongly recommended that a paper be re-read multiple times and revised using only one or two criteria at a time. The following suggested sequence of revisions is based on five cycles of re-reading and revising the initial draft. You may want to complete the first two revisions today and the remaining three tomorrow after you evaluate the paper you have drafted today.
   • On first revision of your draft try to focus on writing with (1) no excess words; rather, write with nouns and verbs and (2) no long, confusing sentences; no groups of short, monotonous sentences.
   • On the second reading, try to (1) give each paragraph a main point of focus and (2) edit out all unrelated ideas.
   • On the third reading, try to focus on (1) opening the paper with a clear statement of the thesis and hints at its importance and (2) an ending that summarizes the discussion using a new example.
   • On the fourth reading, try to focus on (1) using no passive voice and no jargon or jawbreakers and (2) using strong verbs and precise words.
   • On the fifth reading try to focus on (1) writing an introduction that draws the reader into the work and (2) marking points of reflection, rest, assimilation with a paragraph.

Step Six (Thursday)

1. Evaluate the paper. [Example: Does the finished product match the assignment requirements? Did you answer the question you asked? Did you give credit to your sources (including books and people)? ]
2. Evaluate the research process. [Example: Did you make the right choices in planning and working through this assignment? Did you list all of the information that you would need? Did you list and select the best possible sources to find this information? Did you use the best methods to locate the information?]

Submit product (Friday)

1. Be sure you have included a Bibliography or List of References, giving the sources you used.
2. If the paper is not yet due, submit this copy to a classmate or roommate or friend (or yourself) and ask them to read your paper and answer the following questions to evaluate the content and organization of your paper :
   • Is the introduction clear and complete?
   • Does the statement of purpose adequately and logically orient the reader?
   • Is the literature adequately reviewed?
   • Are the citations appropriate and complete?
   • Is the research question clearly identified?
   • Are the conceptualizations and rationale perfectly clear?
   • Is the discussion thorough? Does it stick to the point and confine itself to what can be concluded from the findings of the reseach?
   • Is the paper concise?
   • Is the paper prepared according to APA or MLA style?

Related Resources:

The Big6.com Website

The Big 6 Board Game

To Review the 5-day MODEL for writing a short paper:

Monday

1. Select a topic. Define the topic by rewriting it as a question.
2. List the information you will need to find.
3. List possible information sources.
4. Select the best sources.

Tuesday

1. Locate the selected sources, including through finding appropriate subject headings.
2. Find information within each source.
3. Engage information in the source.
4. Extract information from the multiple sources, using a graphic organizer.

Wednesday

1. Organize the information from the various sources into a logical sequence, perhaps following an outline format.
2. Write a draft linking the various pieces of information into a coherent telling.
3. Revise the draft for a better telling/reading.
4. Remember the following writing tips:
   • Opening gives clear state of thesis and hints at its importance
   • Introduction draws reader into the work
   • No excess words; write with nouns and verbs
   • Use strong verbs and precise words
   • No passive voice and no jargon or jawbreakers
   • No long, confusing or short monotonous sentences
   • Each paragraph has a main point of focus
   • All unrelated ideas have been edited out
   • Points of reflection, rest, assimilation are marked by a paragraph
   • Ending summarizes the discussion using a new example
   • No punctuation or spelling errors

Thursday

1. Evaluate the paper. [How effective was your work?]
   Use the following questions to evaluate the content and organization of your final paper prior to submitting to the professor for grading:
   • Is the introduction clear and complete?
   • Does the statement of purpose adequately and logically orient the reader?
   • Is the literature adequately reviewed?
   • Are the citations appropriate and complete?
   • Is the research question clearly identified?
   • Are the conceptualizations and rationale perfectly clear?
   • Is the discussion thorough? Does it stick to the point and confine itself to what can be concluded from the findings of the reseach?
   • Is the paper concise?
   • Is the paper prepared according to APA or MLA style?
2. Evaluate the research process. [How efficient was your research activity?]

Friday

1. Be sure you have included a Bibliography or List of References, giving the sources you used.
2. Be sure to keep both an electronic copy and a clean printed copy of your paper for your own records.

Some helpful resources as you refine your paper:

• APA Reference Style Guide
• APA in-text parenthetical citations
• Assembling a list of Works Cited in your paper