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Here's a hit on the research paper topic I posted a few days ago:

Try integrating the curriculum research with the Big6.  There are several
lessons to look at on the Big6 website --- http://www.big6.com
Also, I would suggest learning about problem based learning.

...

We use the Know it All video series to help in research
instruction.  These are produced by GPN in Lincoln, NE.


...

If you can get your hands on a Step Up to Writing teachers manual,
it will take care of almost everything.  Can be ordered from a company
called Sophris West in Denver.  Chapter 8 includes note-taking, outlining,
bibliography.  Other chapters include paragraph and multi-paragraph writing.
One other suggestion - link the subject of the research papers to science or
social studies curriculum.  We do colonial America, important people of the
Revolutionary and/or Civil War eras in fifth grade social studies;
electricity and magnets, inventors and inventions, and biomes in science.

...

You don't say much about how this is to fit into teh ongoing classroom
instruction.  Is it related to a specific unit in social studies or
science or is it related to a component of their language arts etc.  Makes
a big difference in how you approach it in some ways.  Speaking
generically:

1. if it is an initial experience, than it requires much modeling and
guided practice, not just independent application of skills.

2.  Students of this age and experience need significant structure to be
successful -- at all costs avoid a pick whatever topic you want approach.
I frequently use a common outline with major components identified and
each student has a specific topic that fits the assignment.  For
example:  inventions, countries or states, animals, individuals related to
a period in history, structures, sports etc.  I give an overview of teh
whole project and then have them do teh research, notetakling, rough draft
and final copy for one segment of teh report at a time.  That way it is a
size they can ciope with and they practice the process several
times.  After all it is the process they need to learn, not the specific
content of the report.  By providing the structure in terms of types of
information they need to gather they can collaborate with eachother but
need to do own work on specific topic.

3.  Implement a research model school-wide so it becomes second nature.  I
like my simplified version of teh Follett Pathweays model because it
requires students to do some pre-search before choosing specific topic
(insure material is available right up front) and it has an
interpretation component which goes beyons just collecting facts and
giving them back.  Students need to interact with the information to draw
conclusions or recognize relationships not just parrot the facts back.

4.  Many short research experiences are much more beneficial than one big
monster assignment. As I said it is the process of recognizing an
information need, identifying appropriate resources, collecting and
organizing the information and then sharing it for a meaningful purpose
that are the crucial life skills.  A paragraph length piece requires teh
same process and a multi page report.  Instructional time is a valuable
comity.  Experiences with short focused research activities at this age
will build the skills for latrer more open ended and independent
activities.

...

Have you looked at the big6.com website.  It has great ideas for
gathering and organizing information for research.  The best tool I think
it has to offer is Trash and Treasure.

...

I hope you will "teaching" in the context of an assigned paper by their
teachers. That is the number one criteria - teach when the skill is needed.
You can use the Big 6 model, or any other model for defining the problem
clearly, start with the encyclopedia for an overview of their subject and
then move to other print resources. They will need help in taking notes,
recording bibliographic information each time they use a new source, and in
assimilating the information  they find. The Internet should be their LAST
resource because they need to have some frame of reference about their topic
before they go to the computer. They have to evaluate information found on
the Internet based on what they have learned about the subject in print
sources. The students will need teacher and librarian intervention all along
the way to assure they are on target and moving at an appropriate rate
through the process. Collaborate closely with the teacher making the
assignment to be sure you are working together to achieve the educational
goal which has been established by the two of you working together.

...

You can try this online tutorial I created to help teach creating a
bibliography.

http://stcloudstate.edu/~peterj05/HTML%20Presentation%20folder/sld001.htm
<http://stcloudstate.edu/~peterj05/orderform.html>

...

Kristen Patschke Clark

Library Media Specialist
Sequoyah Elementary
Knoxville, Tennessee
patschkek@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us

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