When planning a big event like a milestone birthday party for your friend, there are so many factors to consider.  Where should you hold it?  Who should be invited?  When should you schedule it?  How much will it cost?  Perhaps you start by reserving a venue and sending out invitations, and then hit a snag when you find out that your friend wanted an intimate dinner party at her house.  Oops!  In this case, it’s important to determine the goal and overall vision for the birthday party before focusing on details.

This same idea can be used when planning a big assignment like a research project.  What’s the topic?  How long should it be?  What voice should you use?  Who is your audience?  If you jump in with both feet first, it can get confusing and overwhelming.  Determining the outcome or the goal from the very beginning can help you focus on the most important point, and then you can work backwards from there.  This section gives you suggestions on how to do that!