Very interesting Difficult to answer Easy to answer A bit boring

How to write a Research Question!

Goals Understand why we develop research questions. Learn strategies for developing research questions. Begin formulating our own research questions.

Why Create a Research Question? A focused question gives structure to the search for information A well crafted research question helps avoid aimless searching and wasting time

A Research Question is… Something you WANT to know Not a topic, fragment, phrase, or sentence. It ends with a question mark! Clear and precisely stated. It is not too broad, nor is it too narrow. Is it a THICK or THIN question?

What makes a good research question? Is it interesting?--- to you and others Is it research-able? --- can information be found or created to answer the question Is it manageable? --- not too broad or too narrow

Start with a general topic Biology: Multicellular organisms have organ systems that enable them to survive and interact within their environment or Astronomy: The solar system is part of the Milky Way, which is one of billions of galaxies.

Then decide what interests you Example: Corgis The Milky Way Cakes!

What do I want to know about this topic? Then ask… What do I want to know about this topic?

Why? How? Who? What? Where? When? Use “question words” Why? How? Who? What? Where? When?

Examples of good research questions General topic: Biology of corgis What were corgis bred to do and why are their legs so short? What is the difference between a corgi and a Saint Bernard dog? General topic: Astronomy – Milky Way What is different about the Milky Way compared to other galaxies? Are there signs of other living beings in our galaxy? Why is Pluto no longer a planet? General topic: Chemistry – Everyday materials are often mixtures What is the chemistry of baking a cake?

Problem research questions Too narrow: How many moons are in the Milky Way? Too broad: What is the history of cake-making? Too challenging: Are corgis better than other breeds of dogs? This is an opinion question, what does “better” mean? Too hard to research

Very interesting Difficult to answer Easy to answer A bit boring Why is Pluto no longer a planet? Are corgis better than other breeds of dogs? What is the chemistry of baking a cake? Difficult to answer Easy to answer How many moons are in the Milky Way? A bit boring