Writing Your Research Question Worksheet:
Now that you’ve chosen your research topic, done a bit of
background research and brainstormed your ideas, you’re ready to write your
research question. Your research
question will direct the research that you do over next few weeks as you look
for sources for your annotated bibliography. Refer to Section 1.3 of your
textbook to review the elements and purpose of a research question. Hover over
the blue underlined words to read a definition in the Glossary located at the
end of this document.
You will begin developing your research question by filling
in the table below
Example of Research Question Development
The table below illustrates how a research question develops
from a broad topic to a focused question.
Follow the four examples down each column to see how the questions
develop.
BROAD
TOPIC
RESTRICTED
TOPIC
NARROWED
TOPIC
RESEARCH QUESTION
Pollution
Acid Rain
Acid Rain in the United States
What can we do in the United States to prevent acid rain?
Pollution
Oil Spills
Oil spills and commerce
What impact do oil spills have on the fishing and tourism
businesses in areas affected?
Pollution
Pesticides
Pesticides and the bee population
What evidence is there that pesticides are significantly
harming the bee population?
Pollution
Fracking (hydraulic fracturing)
Fracking and groundwater
What evidence is there that fracking can cause groundwater
contamination?
Develop Your Research Question
Now try out your topic ideas below using the information you
brainstormed. Try out several variations of your topic idea to see how it could
be improved or amended.
Research Question Development Table
The table will expand as you enter content into the columns.
BROAD
TOPIC
RESTRICTED
TOPIC
NARROWED
TOPIC
RESEARCH QUESTION
Research Question:
Of the possible research questions you came up with above,
which question are you planning to use for your annotated bibliography?
Check to be sure that the research question meets these
criteria:
? It is open-ended
(cannot be answered with simple yes or no).
? It addresses an
issue or controversy and/or solves a problem.
? It is something
on which you can take a stand.
Reflection (150-200 words)
In the space below, explain what you learned about this
process as you conducted background research and refined your topic. What was
the most difficult part of the process and how was it difficult for you? What part of the process did you find most
helpful and why?
Once complete, save your completed worksheet and return to
the online classroom to submit this document through the “Assignment
Submission” button below the assignment instructions.
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Glossary: Return
to top
Annotated bibliography: A list of citations with
descriptions and a brief summary or critical statement about each one. Return
Research question: The starting point for your
research. This question should contain
key terms or concepts (ideas) related to your research topic (Soloman, Wilson,
and Taylor, 2012). Return
