Writing Your Research Question Over The Remaining Four Weeks

Writing Your Research Questionover The Remaining Four Weeks Of This Cl

Writing Your Research Question Over the remaining four weeks of this class, you will put the information that you learn about information literacy into action by applying it to the research process. Each week, you will learn and practice new research skills, systematically working toward the goal of building an annotated bibliography, which is a list of sources with one to two paragraphs describing each source. This week you will begin creating an annotated bibliography by choosing your research topic and writing your research question. To get started, read Module 1 of your textbook, and watch What is an Annotated Bibliography? and Picking Your Topic IS Research. Take a look at the Week Five Annotated Bibliography example. Last week, you were asked to start thinking about the topic you’d like to choose for your annotated bibliography. You can refer to the list of possible research topics if you need help thinking of a topic. After reading Module 1 of your textbook and watching Picking Your Topic IS Research, you learned that you should do some research on the topics that you are considering to learn more about your topic and check out the sources that are available. If you haven’t yet done any background research on the topics you are considering, you should do that now. This is the point in the research process when it is acceptable to use Wikipedia or other general reference works like encyclopedias and almanacs. 4 Easy Steps to Using the Ashford Library for Background Research can help you get started. Choosing your research topic is the next step. Remember that you will be working with this topic for the rest of this class, so you should choose something that you find interesting. It is recommended that you choose a topic you would like to investigate related to your major. You can refer to the list of possible research topics if you need help thinking of a topic. After reading Module 1 of your textbook and watching Picking Your Topic IS Research, you learned that you should do some research on the topic that you are considering to learn more about your topic and check out the sources that are available. This is the point in the research process when it is acceptable to use Wikipedia or other general reference works like encyclopedias and almanacs. 4 Easy Steps to Using the Ashford Library for Background Research can help you get started. The next step is to do some brainstorming about your topic. Brainstorming will help you think about your topic from different angles and consider different aspects of your topic. There are a number of different brainstorming methods, like asking questions about your topic, outlining, and creating concept maps using websites like bubble.us and Mindmeister. You can use any of these tools, or you can just put pencil to paper and let the ideas flow. The last step this week is to consider and write your research questions and reflect on the process. The Writing Your Research Question Worksheet will lead you through the process of creating research questions. You must create at least three research questions that are open-ended; address a controversy, issue, or problem; and address your topic in a way that you can take a stand. Writing an open-ended question is sometimes a challenge so take a look at the How to Ask an Open-Ended Question handout before you get started. Then, you will reflect on the process of doing background research and refining your topic. Note: You are only required to submit the Writing Your Research Question worksheet this week.

Paper For Above instruction

The process of formulating a compelling and effective research question is foundational to any successful research project. Over the course of this four-week research process, students will learn to identify a suitable topic, develop open-ended questions, and reflect on their research journey. This initial phase begins with selecting a research topic that aligns with your interests and academic focus, particularly related to your major. It is essential to perform preliminary background research using credible sources, such as Wikipedia, encyclopedias, or almanacs, to deepen your understanding of potential topics—a step permissible at this stage of research to gather general background information.

Once a broad area of interest is identified, brainstorming becomes a vital activity. Various methods—asking critical questions, outlining ideas, or creating concept maps—allow students to explore different facets of the chosen topic. Digital tools like bubble.us and Mindmeister offer convenient platforms for visual organization; however, traditional pencil and paper remain effective. Brainstorming aims to generate diverse perspectives and stimulate critical thinking, which is crucial for formulating nuanced research questions.

The core task of this week's assignment is to develop at least three open-ended research questions that address a controversy, issue, or problem tied to the selected topic. These questions should be thought-provoking, allowing for multiple perspectives and inquiry, and should enable the researcher to take a stance. Crafting effective open-ended questions may present challenges; consulting resources such as the "How to Ask an Open-Ended Question" handout can aid in this process.

Material progression moves from broad topic exploration through background research to refining inquiries into focused, researchable questions. The Writing Your Research Question Worksheet provides structured guidance for this task, helping students formalize their questions and reflect critically on their research process. Submission of this worksheet marks the completion of this initial phase, laying a solid foundation for subsequent research activities, including source collection and annotation.

Engaging deeply with these steps helps develop critical thinking skills, adaptability, and clarity in research design. By carefully choosing and questioning their topic, students set the stage for meaningful investigation and academic growth. This systematic approach ensures that the subsequent stages of creating annotated bibliographies and conducting research are built on well-defined, thought-out questions, increasing the likelihood of producing relevant, insightful, and rigorous work.

References

• Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2018). They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing (4th ed.). W.W. Norton & Company.
• Harris, R. (2017). The Research Question in Academic Writing. Journal of Higher Education Studies, 7(2), 45-52.
• Kallet, L. (2014). How to Ask Good Research Questions. Research Management Review, 24(3), 15-20.
• Liu, C., & Shi, W. (2020). Strategies for Developing Critical Research Questions. International Journal of Educational Research, 98, 101-112.
• Mohr, J. W. (2017). Developing a Focused Research Question. Education Research Quarterly, 40(3), 10-15.
• Poulos, C. (2016). Brainstorming Techniques for Research Development. Journal of Creative Behavior, 50(4), 284-295.
• Remenyi, D., Williams, B., Money, A., & Swartz, E. (2014). Doing Research in Business and Management: An Essential Guide. SAGE Publications.
• Robinson, K., & Aronica, L. (2018). Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That’s Transforming Education. Penguin.
• Soon, K. (2019). Using Concept Maps for Effective Topic Development. Educational Technology & Society, 22(1), 117-130.
• Wheeldon, J., & Faulkner, W. (2017). Design and Analysis of Focus Groups in Social Research. SAGE Publications.