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Big6 #1: Task Definition: What do I need to do?
1.1 Define the information problem
- What does your teacher want you to do? Make sure you understand the requirements of the assignment.
- Ask your teacher to explain the assignment if it seems vague or confusing.
- Restate the assignment in your own words and ask if you are correct.
1.2 Identify the information you need in order to complete the task (to solve the information problem)
- What information do you need in order to do the assignment?
Your teacher will often tell you what information you need.
- If he or she does not, it will help to write a list of questions that you need to look up.Let’s say your assignment is to do a report on a foreign country, and you choose Portugal.
- What information do you need to create your report?
- What kind of things do you think you should learn about?
- Do you want to learn about the history, the food, the festivals and traditions, the economy, local crops, folk tales, language, religion, geography (rivers, mountains, landscape, etc.), climate, government, art or music?
- What is Portugal’s form of government?
- What language(s) do people speak in Portugal?
- What is the official language?
- What is the geography of Portugal? Are there rivers? Mountains? Is it near the ocean? How big is the country?
- What do the farmers grow in Portugal?
- What kind of food do people eat in Portugal?
- What are the traditional celebrations and holidays?
- What does the flag of Portugal look like?
- Where is Portugal located?
- What are the major cities in Portugal?
- Are there states or regions in Portugal?
These questions can be used as a place to start. You may find additional information that is not included in your original question.