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ENG104: Introduction to Research Writing: Writing Research Questions

A green background with the words Research Question on the left. To the right are 3 arrows labeled Graphics, Video, Activity to indicate the order to engage the page content

A research question gives your research project direction and focus. Your thesis is the answer to this question. Your paper will explain the answer using evidence from the sources you found in your research.

Black text on a green background that says Click the arrows to scroll through the gallery below of slides about research questions with helpful hints of how to create one.

After you look at the graphics, try writing a preliminary research question for your topic. Write it down somewhere before you watch the video in step 2.

Step 1: Graphics

A slide titled What is a research question? A large box at the top says Research projects are all about answering questions of significance. Below that are two columns of boxes. The set on the left say Start with questions: Why? or How? The column on the right says Your thesis is your answer! The answer isn't just one word or phrase and you can back it up with evidence from research.
A slide titled Facts about Research Questions. There are 4 bullet points that state the following 1. It doesn't show up in your paper, but the answer to it does. The answer becomes your thesis. 2. It makes searching faster and more efficient. 3. A good research question narrows your topic to something doable, relevant, and focused. When you know what you're trying to answer, you don't need to find ALL the information, just the stuff that answers your question. 4. Once you know a little about your topic, you can start asking research questions. Continue to adapt and change your research question throughout the process.
A slide titled Pieces of a Research question. The slide is organized like an equation with the following under a heading Required elements. Question word (how? why?) plus action verb plus topic plus question mark equals research question. Below that are suggested extras that include adjectives, cause and effect, and sub-topic.
A slide titled Research Questions: what they are and how to ask one. Below are two generic animated monsters.
Two illustrated monsters have speech bubbles above their heads as if speaking to the viewer. The monster on the left says research questions help you narrow your topic by giving your paper direction. now you only need to find the info that helps answer your question. The monster on the left adds then you take your evidence, and formulate that into your thesis statement. The rest of your paper is about proving that answer is the correct one with evidence from your research.
A slide with two monsters. the one on the left asks the other
A slide where 3 other monsters join the two from the previous slide. Those three ask: who? when? where? and the inexperienced monster answers them
A slide with a new monster who ask
A slide titled Constructing your Research question. The slide is organized like an equation with the following under a heading Required elements. Question word (how? why?) plus action verb plus topic plus question mark equals research question. Below that are suggested extras that include adjectives, cause and effect, and sub-topic.
A slide with a monster saying

Step 2: Video

Step 3: Activity

Now that you've watched the video about tweaking and improving your research question, go back to the research question you wrote after step 1. Does it fall into any of the pitfall described in the video? Can you improve your question using any of the strategies discussed in the video? If so, do so now.