Write your Question
▶️Watch a Video Tutorial on choosing research questions.
Remember, your research question should:
- fit the assignment requirements (assignment length, type of argument, source type requirements)
- Be answered with evidence from multiple sources (not yes/no questions)
Q: What is the effect of water pollution on child development in the United States?
Identify your Question Concepts
Library search tools work best with main ideas represented by keywords rather than complete sentences. The four W questions can help you identify the main ideas.
The W Questions
- Who: Who are you talking about?
- What: What is are they doing or is happening?
- Where: Where is your topic relevant?
- How: How is it happening?
- When: When was information on your topic created?
- Why: Why is your topic important?
Example Question
- Who & What: children development
- Where: United States
- How: water pollution
- When: Today (last 5 years)
- Why: public safety
Question Concepts Become Keywords
Use the answer to the W questions to choose keywords for your topic and put AND between them to search:
Child development AND united states AND water pollution AND safety
▶️ Watch a video to learn more
Go to Part II: Advanced Searching