From narrowed topic to question To get from a narrowed topic to a researchable question, engage in a process known as “questioning your topic.” During this process ask yourself four categories of questions about your topic. 1.What are the parts of your topic? 2.What larger history is your topic part of? 3.What are the categories of your topic? 4.What is the importance of your topic?

From narrowed topic to a question: 1. What are the parts? Question your topic in a way that analyzes its components and the relationships between them. What are the parts of a lie? What are the parts of a white lie? What are the parts of body language? What kinds of body language occur during which kinds of lies?

From narrowed topic to a question: 2. What history is your topic a part of? Question your topic in a way that treats it as a dynamic entity that changes throughout time. Has the body language associated with lying changed as a result of the feminist movement? What are early literary examples of lying? How was lying (esp. the white lie) understood by philosophers? Theologians? How is it understood today? Has anyone ever quantified the nature of the changes?

From narrowed topic to a question: 3. What are the categories of your topic? Question your topic in a way that defines its range of variation, how instances of it are alike and different from one another. Are some white lies more damaging than others? What kinds of white lies exist? What branch of philosophy or theology deals with lying? What are the most typical kinds of white lies?

From narrowed topic to a question: 4. What is the importance of your topic? Question your topic in regard to the value of its uses. How have white lies helped people? How have white lies harmed people? What are the political uses of lying? What is the social/psychological use of lying?

Review and Arrange Answers Write at least one page of questions. Read over your questions. Separate into groups of “who,” “what,” “where” questions and groups of “how” and “why” questions. Consider the “how” and “why” questions. Which ones spark your interest? Cause you pause? This question is your narrowed research question.

From Question to Significance Once you have a question that you’d like to answer, the next step is to add the crucial “so what?” This is called “motivating the question.” Even skilled researchers often cannot answer this question until they are into the research process, but it doesn’t hurt to formulate the “so what” part of the research now.

Three steps to refining the question: Step 1. Name your topic: Fill in the blank with a phrase: I am studying _______________________. I am studying the role of gender difference in the telling of white lies. Hint: Tell people about your project

Three steps to refining the question Step 2. Suggest your motivation: -Create motivation into your statement by adding a “because” to your statement. -It helps you remember and articulate exactly what you want to achieve through your research. -Ex: I am studying the role of gender in the telling of white lies because I want to know whether and how gender difference impacts the social purposes of the white lie.

Three steps to refining your question Step 3. Place your research in a larger context of understanding: a. I am studying the role of gender differences in the telling of white lies b. because I want to know whether and how gender impacts the social purpose of the white lie c. in order to understand more about the relative ethics of our culture.

Regarding Step 3 Step three is the most difficult part. Many times, professional researchers fail to answer this critical question. You may not KNOW the answer until well into the research process. Trying to answer it now may give you some guidance for future research decisions. Be patient. Return to this step often to see whether you are closer to understanding your purpose.

Senior Thesis “So What” Frame Name your Topic: I am studying: ________________________ Suggest your Motivation: ….because ____________________________ Place your research in a larger context of understanding. (The hardest part) … in order to ___________________________

Run it by some colleagues Find three of your peers and go over your research question process, questions, and major research question with them. You should talk through your process while your colleagues listen quietly. Afterwards, discuss the following with your colleagues and take notes: 1. Do the current questions make sense to you? Did they make more sense when your colleague verbalized them verses seeing them written down? Why? 2. What holes do you see so far? Has your colleague jumped from point A to point B without a clear connection? Point out potential jumps in logic. 3. What can you add to this beginning conversation? Do you know anything about it? Can you direct your colleague to somewhere/someone who does? Where could he or she go to begin research?