Developing a Research Question

What makes a good ESSENTIAL research question? Begins with “How” This question will lead you to make an argument, not just present facts Makes a comparison Includes the verb “compare”

Supporting Questions start with who or what lead you to facts that you then consider before you answer your essential question (The answer to your essential question will be an opinion, not a fact!) Facts answering your supporting questions make the three (or more) body paragraphs of your paper

Two Types of Research Questions For this paper, comparison

Comparison Questions Select similar items you want to compare Example: Leaders Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini Develop your essential research question Example: How did the leadership of Adolf Hitler compare to that of Benito Mussolini?

Supporting Questions Research Question: How did the leadership of Hitler compare to that of Mussolini? Select at least 3 ways you will compare the items. These ways will be your supporting questions. Who were Hitler and Mussolini? What did each do to gain power? 3. What did each do to direct his government?

Comparison Questions Select items to compare Develop research question Concentration Camps Buchenwald and Dachau Develop research question How did Dachau compare to Buchenwald? Develop supporting questions What were the camps? What were the living conditions in each camp? 3. What was the treatment of prisoners in each camp?

Review How should your essential question begin? What verb should your research question include? Should you find the answer to your essential question in a book or database?

Are these good ESSENTIAL research questions? Who was General Patton and what was his part in WWII? No – does not begin with How or Why – only requires facts. How did Kovno Ghetto compare to the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp? No – not similar topics.

Writing your essential question: (Write this now, with me) first, ESSENTIAL question: How did __________ compare to __________________?

Writing support question #1 for a comparison topic or cause/effect: For #1, begin with “who” or “what”. If you are doing people, begin with who. If places, events, etc., do what. example of comparison #1: What was the Hitler Youth for girls? What was the Hitler Youth for boys? The answers to this question will provide basic background info. only!

Writing support questions #2 and #3 for a comparison topic: (essential question: How did the Hitler Youth organization for girls compare to the Hitler Youth organization for boys?) Questions #2 and #3 are categories or aspects of your essential question (key nouns). Questions #2 and #3 address particular aspects of your essential question/topic. #2 and #3= begin with “What….?” Write “What” at the start of #2 and #3 please. Only “what” for a moment please.

Writing support questions #2 and #3 for a comparison topic: (essential question: How did the Hitler Youth organization for girls compare to the Hitler Youth organization for boys?) Example for support question #2: What ideas were the Hitler Youth girls taught? What ideas were the Hitler Youth boys taught? Example for support question #3: What activities did Hitler Youth girls do? What activities did Hitler Youth boys do?

Now, Writing support questions #2 and #3 for a comparison topic: Write your own questions for #2 and #3. Use below as a model. I will come around to help you. Example for support question #2: What ideas were the Hitler Youth girls taught? What ideas were the Hitler Youth boys taught? Example for support question #3: What activities did Hitler Youth girls do? What activities did Hitler Youth boys do?

Support questions: a summary view of the ex. for a comparison topic Clearly, you can see that the three sample support questions look at… 1) background/overview of topic same for everyone 2) one category of topic (ex. ideas taught) 3) another category of topic (ex. activities) Support questions for comparison topics come from categories!

Writing support questions #2 and #3 for cause and effect: For #2 and #3, begin with “What..?” For #2, What was ________________ like before __________________? (your big topic) For # 3, What was ________________ like after _____________________? (your big topic)

Good luck! Green log is due at the start of class tomorrow, meaning your essential question and support questions will be completely done. Your log MUST have proper spelling of topic, capitalization, punctuation, and complete sentences if you want full credit! If not, you will NOT get a 10/10. Be prepared to turn them in right away!