Framing a Research Question · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Framing a research question

English · English Thinking · ages 17-18
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What is the first move with a broad interest like sport?

    • Narrow it until it fits the time and sources
    • Read everything ever written on sport
    • Pick whatever source appears first

  2. When should you frame your research question?

    • After writing the conclusion
    • Before touching any sources
    • Once the draft is finished

  3. A question nobody could test still makes a fine project.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Your draft asks for the best school lunch. What is the sharpest fix?

    • Ask which lunch is most chosen in one canteen this term
    • Ask more pupils for gut feelings
    • Keep best and argue louder

  5. Which version is closer to a strong question?

    • Is music good
    • Why do bus fares rise fastest on two city routes this year
    • Tell me about cities

  6. If you cannot name the settling evidence, the question is still too big.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. A draft stacks five quotes with no links to its question. What is the verdict?

    • Strong, because five beats one
    • Weak, because no quote is woven to a claim
    • Strong, because quotes speak for themselves

  8. Two questions: one settled years ago, one open but huge. What is the right call?

    • Take the settled one for safety
    • Take the huge one untouched
    • Reject both and cut the open one down to size
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_IEMPNTY48g-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Framing a research question W1-mt_IEMPNTY48g-s1

  1. Narrow it until it fits the time and sources · One clear question beats five vague interests.
  2. Before touching any sources · The question is a promise that steers all later searching.
  3. False · Untestable questions waste the project, so reject them.
  4. Ask which lunch is most chosen in one canteen this term · Measurable words like most chosen turn taste into evidence.
  5. Why do bus fares rise fastest on two city routes this year · It asks how or why about a tight scope with findable evidence.
  6. True · Naming the evidence is the test that the question fits.
  7. Weak, because no quote is woven to a claim · One well used study beats five dropped names.
  8. Reject both and cut the open one down to size · Settled wastes effort and huge fits nothing, so reshape the open one.
Worksheet · LightMySky