Choosing a Topic & Defining a Research Question

1. What should be your first step when choosing a research topic?

• Ask your friends or parents for ideas for your topic

• Choose the first topic that you think of

• Brainstorm ideas that are interesting to you and that are related to your assignment

• Do a Google search

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

2. What are subtopics?

• Smaller ideas that connect to the big ideas

• Big ideas that connect to the smaller ideas

• Some of the other topics you were considering

• Topics about submarines

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

3. What does each letter in a KWL chart stand for?

• Knowledge, When, Learn

• Know, When, List

• Knowledge, Wonder/Want to Know, List

• Know, Wonder/Want to Know, Learn

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RI.7.10

CCSS.RL.6.10

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

4. These are statements about open and closed questions. Which statement is NOT correct?

• Closed questions are basic and often begin with who, what, where, or when.

• Closed questions are more involved and require more research.

• Open questions are complex and often begin with why.

• Open questions have more than one answer and may lead to more questions.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RI.1.1

5. Which of the following is an example of an open question?

• How large is a blue whale?

• What are the different types of whales?

• Why are whales important to ocean ecosystems?

• Do whales communicate?

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RI.1.1

6. An essential question should be an open question. True or false?

• True

• False

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RL.1.1

7. These are statements about essential questions. Which statement is NOT correct?

• An essential question is usually easy to answer.

• An essential question is an open ended question.

• The answers to an essential question should come from many sources.

• An essential question is the focus of your research.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RI.1.1

8. Which of these is the BEST choice for an essential question for a research paper about life on planets?

• Which planets do we know have life on them?

• What factors affect a planet’s ability to sustain life?

• Why would being the closest or farthest planet from the sun affect the ability to sustain life?

• Why is there no life on the moon?

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RL.1.1