Answer these questions in your planning post.
When you do research you are looking for information for some reason, either for your own interest or you have a class assignment. In either case you need to be sure of what you will be doing.
Task definition means to be sure about the job you have to do.
Let's assume you have an assignment from a teacher. Most teachers give an assignment paper that describes the assignment. Be sure to ask for one. Make sure that you know the following things about your assignment:
1. What kind of final product are you expected to present to the teacher?
• Is it a written report?
• An oral presentation?
• A poster?
• Or something else?
2. Does it have to be a certain length, size, or duration of time?
• Do you have any freedom of choice in how to present what you will learn?3. What is the topic of the assignment?
(See: Alternative Formats for Presenting Research Projects)
• Does your teacher give you the specific topic (subject) of your assignment?
- What's the question?
- Whose viewpoint are we looking into?
- How do we know what we know?
- What's new? What's old?
- How are things connected?
• Do you have any freedom to select a topic for yourself?
- Prove it.
- Generalize it.
- Connect it.
- Picture it.
- Extend it.
• Did the teacher give you a very general topic that you have to focus to a smaller topic?4. What is the due date for your final product?
• Are there any parts of the assignment due before the final due date (like a rough draft, notes, outline, etc.)?
