Defining

During this stage, you should ask yourself:

What exactly do I have to do?
What do I already know?
What do I have to find out?
Can I choose the presentation format? If so, what is the best way to present the information?
Who will be the audience for this task?
How am I going to be marked for this task?

Strategies for Defining

Underline the instructional keywords in the assignment / task (these words tell you what to do with the information you find).
- Instructional words and what they mean
Underline the information keywords in the assignment / task (these relate to the content of your assignment)
Use a dictionary to define any words you're not sure of.
- Cambridge Dictionary
Brainstorm everything you already know about the topic.
Find out the criteria you're going to be assessed on.
Explore the general topic to get an idea of its scope and what's involved.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
Create focus questions (so you don't get sidetracked).
- 5Ws and 1H (Who, What, Why, When, Where and How)
- Bloom's Taxonomy
- Question Matrix
- Questioning Toolkit
Decide on the type of information you need.
- Do you need to use any primary sources of information?
- Will secondary sources suit this assignment / task?