Download Conducting Research

Conducting
Research
Pose possible questions worth
exploring
Narrow the question:
restrict your focus to length requirements
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Broad
 What
 What
 What
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are the hazards of fad diets?
causes homelessness?
influences an author to produce a literary work?
Narrower
 What are the hazards of liquid diets?
 How has the deinstitutionalization of the
mentally ill
contributed to the problem of homelessness?
 How did Hemmingway’s relationship with his father
influence his writings?
Intellectually Challenging Questions:
seek to provoke thought or engage readers in debate

Too bland
 What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?
 How do lie detectors work?
 When did Steinbeck decide to become a

writer?
Challenging
 What
treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder
show the most promise?
 How reliable are lie detectors?
 What obstacles nearly prevented Steinbeck from
becoming an author?
Ground Questions in Facts:
Do not focus on speculation or philosophical, ethical or religious issues
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Too Speculative



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Is capital punishment moral?
What is the difference between a just and an unjust law?
Are drugs and alcohol needed to write?
Grounded

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Does capital punishment deter crime?
Should we adjust our laws so that penalties for possession of
powdered cocaine and crack cocaine are comparable?
How does Hemmingway justify his use of alcohol in comparison
to Fitzgerald’s abusive habits?
Homework Assignment
Access: http://www.dianahacker.com/
bedhandbook
 Select: Research Exercises
 Do Exercise 49-1 Research questions
 E-mail results to: [email protected]
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