Long Beach Middle School

Information Skills Builder - How You Start Doing Your Report

The following steps are a systematic approach to doing a research report, whatever the format (written report, oral presentation, poster or PowerPoint presentation.)

1. Reading your assignment

• What format should you use? (written, spoken, digital)
• How long does it have to be? (number of pages, minutes)
• What does it have to include? (bibliography, chart, map, interview)
• What information do you need to collect?

2. Information collecting

• What type of resources should you use? (encyclopedia, book, Website, interview)
• What information do you already have and what do you need to find?

3. Finding information

• Where should you go to find the information? (school library, public library, on-line)
• Once there, how do you find the information you need? (search engine, index, library OPAC)

4. Using information

• Read, listen to, or view the information.
• Extract the information you need. (take notes, highlight pages, make photocopies, record interviews, take pictures)
• Evaluate the information you find. (fact or opinion, when was it published, how expert is the author/publisher)

5. Creating your report

• Organize your material.
• Type your written report.
• Proof-read your report.
• Rehearse your oral report in front of others.
• Test your digital presentation on the equipment it will be presented on.

Thanks to Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz of Big6 for their assistance in preparing this page