LibGuides: Research Guide: Developing the Essential Question

What is an Essential Question?

Source:

Thank you to Shepaung Valley School Library's LibGuide, Essential Questions, for the content of this page.

Handouts for Lesson 1 : Clarify the Question

Planning Your Research Explains the first step of the research process - Clarifying your question.
What is Research PDF create by Research Project Calculator explaining what research is.
Developing and Combining Keywords
Worksheet to help students think how to use keywords in their searches
Mindmap template

Evaluating websites
Excellent form to help you evaluate your sites from the University of Maryland.

Web Page Eval Form
If you use an article or source from a web page you must fill out this form. The form will then become part of your project and be included in the overall final presentation.

Formulating Your Essential Question

It's important to develop an essential research question that truly interests you!

Your essential question will be the main idea of your entire project. Your essential question is a question that asks, in some detail, what you want to learn about during the research process.

An essential question asks about something that you can prove with evidence. It is not a simple statement of fact. An essential question should be the product of your own critical thinking and some background reading.

Your supporting questions guide you as you work so that you will read and take notes only on what's needed for your project.

What Makes a Good Essential Question?

Is open-ended; that is, it typically will not have a single, final, and correct answer.
Is thought-provoking and intellectually engaging, often sparking discussion and debate.
Calls for higher-order thinking, such as analysis, inference, evaluation, prediction. It cannot be effectively answered by recall alone.
Points toward important, transferable ideas within (and sometimes across) disciplines.
Raises additional questions and sparks further inquiry.
Requires support and justification, not just an answer.
Recurs over time; that is, the question can and should be revisited again and again.
It is interesting to YOU!

Source: "What Makes a Question Essential?" ASCD. ASCD, 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.

What are supporting Questions?

Your supporting questions guide you as you work so you will read and take notes only on what is needed for your project.

Example 1: Topic = Steroids

Issue = Steroids and Professional Athletes

Essential Question = Should steroids be banned from professional sports?

Supporting Questions:

Why do professional athletes take steroids?
What are the harmful effects of steroid use?
What are the current laws/rules of using steroids in professional sports?
Where do athletes get steroids?

Example 2: Topic = Skateboarding

Issue = Skateboarding and Helmets

Essential Question = Should skateboarders be required by law to wear
helmets?

Supporting Questions:

Why don't some skateboarders wear helmets?
What injuries do skateboarders suffer most often?
How many skateboarders are seriously injured each year?
How do skateboarding injuries affect the lives of skateboarders?