Webbing is fun ...

I think that the webbing step is really the most fun for me of all of the steps. I really do enjoy exploring the resources - reading, learning new things, sharing what I'm learning with friends and family members. The Big6 refers to what I have been considering Webbing as Step 3 (Location and Access) and Step 4 (Use of Information). Virginia Rankin labels them as Step 4 (Select Information), Step 5 (Interpret and Record Information), and Step 6 (Evaluate Information). I think I like these steps because the possibilities are still so limitless. You can blissfully keep looking at sources until you realize the hard truth - you must move on and decide what to include and what not to include. This is the hard part for me. I'd just rather wallow in the sea of resources than make the tough choices about what to cut and what to keep. I agreed with Kuhlthau's feelings of "realization of extensive work to be done" and "increased interest", but I was not feeling an abundance of "confidence in ability to complete task."

I was able to find some good information on Inspire. I wanted to use the Inspire Kids, in particular, because I wanted to see what I could find about Chicago that was written for kids. I used Searchasaurus and Primary Search, and I was able to find useful material using both of these. It was interesting to see how the encyclopedia articles compared to the books and websites I have been reading. I was also able to find some relevant articles from magazines to add another perspective to the information I have been collecting. Oh, I also found some great images. (Thanks, Jill, for the tips!)

My other methods of gathering information have been searching for information (mainly books) through my local library, searching online using Google and Ask.com, interviewing a friend who lives in Chicago, and using a database (Academic Search Elite). I feel like I'm really getting a good grasp on what is out there that relates to my topic. Each time I've searched, I've found good information that I can use, so I've been encouraged by this.


I think (hope) I'm getting ready to begin the stages of tying everything together.


The Big 6 website.
Rankin, Virginia (1992). Pre-search. School Library Journal (Vol. 38, Issue 3, p. 168-171).