THE RESEARCH QUESTIONHow-To Guide

What is a Research Question• The research question will help focus and guide you

research. You are seeking to answer the research question with your paper.• Paper = 3-4 page answer to research question

• You are analyzing your topic, not telling the story of what it is.

How & Why• Your research question SHOULD NOT be able to be

answered immediately. • No definitive answer

Topic

How

Why

So What?

What a Research Question Should Include

• Research questions should:• Address causes and effects• Be open ended (no yes/no answer)• Be argumentative/debatable• Be specific (who, what, where, when)

Topic

How

Why

So What?

Example: What impacts did Westward Expansion have upon the Southern United States during the 1st half of the 1800’s?

How Do I Create a Research Question?

• You have accomplished your pre-research. At this time, you may want to narrow your topic a little more.

• Example: military weaponry of WWII – you may want to pick the development of rockets.

• Ask yourself how and why…think in terms of how and why your topic effected its country of origin.

Example

WWII Propaganda in the U.S.

How: how was propaganda

developed in the U.S?

Why: why was there a need for

propaganda when there was support of the war due to

Pearl Harbor? So What? What was the effect that propaganda had on civilians? Was

it necessary?

You can take any of these strands and turn them into a research question. They can stand alone or be combined.

This has a pretty

definitive answer; I

will omit it.

WWII Propaganda in the U.S.

Why: why was there a need for propaganda

when there was support of the war

due to Pearl Harbor?

So What? What was the effect that propaganda had on

civilians? Was it necessary?

Rough Draft Process:

What was the effect that propaganda had on U.S. civilians and their support for WWII after Pearl Harbor? Was it necessary?

Rough Draft Process:

How did propaganda effect U.S. citizens’ support for WWII?

Rough Draft Process:

After Pearl Harbor, was there a need for propaganda to garner U.S. support for WWII?

FINAL: How did propaganda effect U.S. civilians and their support for WWII after Pearl Harbor?

Check you Research Question

• Final Draft: How did propaganda effect U.S. civilians and their support for WWII after Pearl Harbor?

• Does this address causes/effects?

• Is it open ended?• Can it be argued?• Is it specific enough (who, what, when, where?)

• Is it TOO narrow? (will I be able to find sources on it?)

Other Examples

• Look at the examples provided to you before you start to formulate your own research question.

• Research Questions are DUE AT THE END OF CLASS.