Selecting a manageable topic and posing specific questions are basic skills crucial to beginning a research project. We often find college students who are not proficient in these areas, so it is important for students to practice them from the earliest grades.
Ask questions about topics of class-wide interest (K.19A)
Generate a list of topics of class-wide interest and formulate open-ended questions about one or two topics, with adult assistance (1.23A, 2.24A)
Ask open-ended research questions and develop a plan for answering them. (English, 20)
Brainstorm, consult with others, decide upon a topic, and formulate a major research question to address the major research topic. (English, 20A)
Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation. (Tech Apps 126.44: 7)
Generate research topics from personal interests or by brainstorming with others, narrow to one topic, and formulate open-ended questions about the major research topic. (3.25A, 4.23A, 5.23A)
Defines and articulates the need for information. (Goal 1.1)
Confers with instructors and participates in class discussions, peer workgroups, and electronic discussions to identify a research topic or other information need (1.1a)
Develops a thesis statement and formulates questions based on the information need (1.1b)
Ask open-ended questions and develop a plan for answering them. (22)
Brainstorm, consult with others, decide upon a topic, and formulate open-ended questions to address the major research topic. (22A)
Decide on a general area of focus and do some preliminary research. The best way to do this is to find a scholarly encyclopedia article in a library database such as Gale Virtual Reference Library.
What is your general topic? (example: the economic situation of the Roman world in the Late Republic period)
Your topic:
List three sub-topics you might focus on. (example: agriculture, mining, coinage)
Three areas:
Select one topic, read an encyclopedia article about it, narrow it to something specific, and ask some questions about it. (Example: Why were olives important? What was the agricultural situation in Italy? Why were agricultural lands in North Africa important? Are there any agricultural writings or manuals from the Roman period? Was trade between Italy and North Africa common or uncommon in this period?)
Your questions:
Develop a preliminary statement and a focused research question. This may change as you learn more about your topic, but it will help you get started. (example: Olives were important in the Roman economy, since olive products were used for everything from food to lamp oil to sheep dip. How did the Roman development of the rich agricultural lands of North Africa contribute to the olive trade?)
Your statement and question:
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