1. Defining the Task
First Step in the Big6 Research
Process

2. Defining the Task with Guiding
Questions
• Guiding Questions help focus and expand
research.
– Thinking about what might be interesting and
important to learn about their topic, compare broad,
open-ended questions with narrow, closed questions.
– Play "red light, green light," to test for appropriate
guiding questions.
– (This game shows that one-answer questions "stop"
the flow of information and is a fun way for students to
test and select good guiding questions.)

3. Importance of developing good,
critical thinking, questions
• Helps the audience think critically about
the topic being discussed
• Allows multiple people from the audience
to participate during discussions
• Helps the presenter lead a good thorough
discussion

4. GREEN LIGHT QUESTIONS:
• Lead to more information!
• They answer “Why” and “What if”
• ….open ended questions that lead to
critical thinking and opinions
• They encourage your audience to
investigate
• They lead your audience to the bigger
picture

5. RED LIGHT QUESTIONS:
• Are questions that STOP information!
• They ask for only one answer
• They ask for “yes” or “no” answers
• They ask for ONE WORD answers
• They don’t help you find out more
information
• They kill your discussion!!!!!!!!

6. Examples
• What was the world like when Abraham
Lincoln was born? ___green light______
• When was Abraham Lincoln born? ___red
light_______

7. Red Light or Green Light?
• Do you like the leader of the United
States? __________________
• What are some pros and cons about the
leader of the United States?
__________________

8. Red Light or Green Light?
• Do you think citizens’ will go vote for the
election? _____________________
• What are some reasons as to why a
citizen will/will not go vote?
_____________________

9. Red Light or Green Light?
• Do you think citizens’ will go vote for the
election? _____________________
• What are some reasons as to why a
citizen will/will not go vote?
_____________________

10. Red Light or Green Light?
• Is the United States contributing to global
warming? ______________________
• How could the United States reduce the
effects of global warming?
____________________

11. Examples of Open-ended
Questions
• How would you…?
• What would result if…?
• How would you describe…?
• How does…compare with…?
• What is the relationship between…?
• What would happen if…?
• How could you change…?
• How would you improve…?
• How do you feel about…?
• Why do you believe…?
• What is your opinion of…?
• What choice would you have made…?
• What would you do differently?
• Why do you feel…?
• How would you go about solving the problem…?
• If you were in this position what would you do?
• Why do you/don’t you support…?
• What could improve…?