From the former CTAP 4 Information Literacy Website...

Integrating Research Projects with Focused Writing Instruction article by McMackin and Siegel

This article lays a good foundation for teachers looking to teach students to use the research process.
Files: http://www.readingonline.org/articles/art_index.asp?HREF=/articles/mcmackin/index.html

Process Steps

This note taking structure for students and teachers lists each of the steps in the questioning process through the development of a BIG question and three researchable questions.
Files: Process Steps (.doc); High School Process Steps (.doc)

Levels of Questioning

How might this process look at different stages of student proficiency and development? Here are some ideas and samples.
Files: Levels (.doc)

CDE Content Standards

This website by the CDE lists all the California content standards for every subject that is available.
Files: http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/

KW Chart

This Inspiration template is a starting point for student to create a KW chart as referenced in the McMackin and Siegel article. Students can use the rapid-fire feature of Inspiration to show what they know about their topic and what they want to know about it.
Files:  KW Chart (.pdf) ; Maya Questions (.pdf)

BIG Question Poster

This poster outlines a sample definition that can be used with students to describe a BIG question. Once students are familiar with BIG questions, many teachers have students create their own class definition.
Files: Big Questions Poster (.doc)

Good Questions

This poster has different definitions to describe a BIG question. One sample was generated by students at Napa's River Charter School.
Files: Good Questions (.doc poster); High School Poster:  Good Questions (.doc)

Big Questions or Not?

This activity helps students determine the different between BIG questions and little questions. Using the definition of a BIG question from the Good Questions sheet, students categorize each sample question as a BIG question or a little question. Students then explain why the question fits in that category (maya sample) or they revise the question to a BIG question (cancer sample).
Files: Sample Maya Questions  (.doc form); Sample Cancer Questions  (.doc form)

Big Questions or Not?

Initial Questions

This student sheet begins the process of choosing and developing a big question. Students begin with determining what they are interested in learning about, form those ideas into questions, and develop one or two BIG questions that fit the definition of a big question.
Files: Initial Questions (.doc form)

Clarifying Conference Poster

The clarifying conference structures peer conferencing to help students give each other useful feedback to develop and refine their question. This strategy takes explict teaching for students to be able to use effectively. This poster states the purpose of the conference and the ground rules to promote thoughtful conferences.
Files: Clarifying Conference (.doc poster)

Blooms Taxonomy--Revised

This word document comes from Kurwongbah State School in Queensland, Australia. Here is a link to Bloom's revised taxonomy resources at the school: http://www.kurwongbss.eq.edu.au/thinking/Bloom/blooms.htm
Files: Blooms Updated Poster (.doc)

BIG Question Machine

This student sheet helps students evolve their questions from an initial question to a meaningful researchable question. Students begin with their initial question and work with other students and the Bloom's starters to create a deeper question aligned with the higher end of Bloom's taxonomy (a "bloomed" question).
Files: Big Question Machine  (.doc form);
15  Big Question machine  (High School .doc form);
Sample Maya Bloomed Questions (.pdf)

Researchable Questions

This student sheet helps students plan their research. First students brainstorm what the need to learn about their BIG question. Then narrow the scope to three researchable questions that will help answer this BIG question. After determining key words from each small question, student identify synonyms to those key words. Finally, students anticipate problem words that might obstruct their search. This sheet lays out a road map for planning the student search.
Files: Researchable Qurestions (.doc)

Rules for Questioning Brainstorm

These are the rules for questioning brainstorm for students. Use this with Inspiration software to promote inquiry.
Files: Rules for Questioning (.doc High School)

David Thornburg Inquiry Paper

This insightful paper by David Thornburg considers the role of questioning in the learning process. Especially notable is the questioning rubric that follows the article.
Files: Thornburg Inquiry (.pdf)