Cubing

Cubing is primarily a writing technique that makes us of an in-depth kaleidoscopic view of the topic. It requires that a subject be studied from 6 different perspectives. One source suggests to move fast, using 3 to 5 minutes for each side of the cube. All 6 sides must be considered to conduct a full inquiry of the subject.

6 sides to consider a topic from:


 * 1) Describing: Physically describe your topic. What does it look like? What color, shape, texture, size is it? Identify its parts.
 * 2) Comparing:  How is your topic similar to other topics/things? How is it different?
 * 3) Associating: What other topic/thing does your topic make you think of? Can you compare it to anything else in your experience? Don't be afraid to be creative here: include everything that comes to mind. List the memories or thoughts that come to mind in reflecting on the subject. This is a much more personal, intimate side of the creating technique.
 * 4) Analyzing: Simply put, break the subject down into parts. Look at your topic's components. How are these parts related? How is it put together? Where did it come from? Where is it going?
 * 5) Applying: State how the subject or topic can be used or applied. What can you do with your topic? What uses does it have?
 * 6) Arguing:  What arguments can you make for or against your topic? You argue both pro and con, that is, looking at both sides of the topic. Highlight the strong suits of the subject, and its failings as well. If you are strongly in favor of the issue, then list what its critics or detractors have to say even though you might disagree with them (Note: You will want to point out later in your paper why you disagree with those critics!).

Source 1: [|Prewriting: Cubing]

Source 2: [|The Cubing Technique]

Useful Powerpoint: [|Cubing a Lesson]

For students, cubing can be "an excellent tool for rapidly exploring a topic. It reveals quickly what you know and what you don't know, and it may alert you to decide to narrow or expand your topic." (Source 1). It provides students with a guideline to consider all aspects of a topic, which can prove to be useful in writing and learning about a topic, especially one that may be controversial.

While product assessments (investigative reports, research papers etc), with a detailed rubric of course, would be a good evaluation tool to assess learning using cubing, Interaction/Personal Communication Assessments would also be beneficial. These assessments assess whether students make rote responses or incorporate new ideas. Examples of these type of assessments are: an interview, response journal, informal conversations. Communication assessments can help evaluate if the student understands each side of the cube.

Cubing would be a good strategy to use in Law, in researching a controversial issue, as well as in Life Transitions. Life Trans 20 has a Community issues and ethics module in which students explore issues that are interest to youth, such as: gambling, drinking and driving, the environment etc.