1. TASK DEFINITION
What is the information need or the problem to be solved?
Whenever you are given an assignment—a quiz, an essay, homework—you must first understand what your teacher wants you to accomplish before you can create a plan of attack. Step #1, Task Definition, helps determine what needs to be done and what information is needed to get the job done so you can complete it effectively and efficiently.
1.1 Define the problem
• What is the problem to be solved? |
1.2 Identify the information needed
• What information is needed to solve the problem or make the decision? |
How to complete step 1 successfully (and with the least amount of frustration!)
1. Whenever you are given an assignment, make sure you ask your teacher for an assignment sheet or copy down any instructions your teacher has given the class.
2. Read the information you have been given. Then, read it AGAIN. Re-read it as many times as you have to in order to fully understand what you are being asked to do.
3. Underline or highlight the following information:
• due date
• final product (essay, poster, PPT presentation, oral report, etc.)
• length, size, or duration requirements
• format requirements (font size and style, spacing, MLA or APA citation)
• topic (self-selected—yay, you get to pick your topic!—or pre-selected)
• how much research you are required to do (did your teacher ask for a minimum number of sources?)
4. Brainstorm what types of information you will need to get the assignment done (facts, opinions, pictures, numerical information) and how much information you will need.
5. If you have questions or doubts, ASK YOUR TEACHER! Don't be afraid to ask. The more questions you ask, the less likely you will be to turn in work of poor quality.
2. Read the information you have been given. Then, read it AGAIN. Re-read it as many times as you have to in order to fully understand what you are being asked to do.
3. Underline or highlight the following information:
• due date
• final product (essay, poster, PPT presentation, oral report, etc.)
• length, size, or duration requirements
• format requirements (font size and style, spacing, MLA or APA citation)
• topic (self-selected—yay, you get to pick your topic!—or pre-selected)
• how much research you are required to do (did your teacher ask for a minimum number of sources?)
4. Brainstorm what types of information you will need to get the assignment done (facts, opinions, pictures, numerical information) and how much information you will need.
5. If you have questions or doubts, ASK YOUR TEACHER! Don't be afraid to ask. The more questions you ask, the less likely you will be to turn in work of poor quality.
Helpful Links to Complete Step 1
SJSU Research Project Calculator
This website maintained by the San Jose Sate University will help you create a calendar with deadlines for each step of your assignment. For each step, you will find questions designed to guide you through the research process. The Research Topic Triangle Get help moving from a general topic to a working thesis. A Questioning Toolkit This site explains each type of question with the help of definitions, examples, and graphic organizers. You can use this comprehensive site to clarify doubts about the type you assignment you were given, examples of how to work with each type of questions, and graphic organizers you can use to complete step 1. |
Use Taxonomy of WebQuest Tasks
Even though created to describe types of WebQuest, this site can help you understand the requirements of your assignment no matter what format it is. K-W-H-L Chart Great initial activity when considering a topic and first research steps Thesis Generator Guided activity that helps with the writing of the thesis statement. Online Outline Maker Guided activity that helps with the creation of an outline. |