Essential Questions for Research Papers

What is an essential question?

• A question that is not meant to be answered

• A question that has a simple answer

• A question that guides your research.

• A question that should not be answered in your paper.

How does an essential question relate to Goldilocks and the Three Bears?

• It should be very broad.

• It should be "just right" (not too broad + not too specific).

• It does not at all.

• It should not be too long.

Should the answer to an essential question be easy-to-find?

• No. It should require looking for information from different sources.

• Sometimes.

• Maybe.

• Yes. One source is enough!

Which of the following is NOT a good essential question starter?

• Why...

• How...

• I think...

• What...

Is this a strong essential question:

Is fast food bad for you?

• Yes.

• No.

Is this a strong essential question:

How does L.E.A.D. positively impact America's youth?

• Yes.

• No.

Is this a strong essential question:

Why was Adolf Hitler bad?

• Yes.

• No.

Is this a strong essential question:

How did Nicholas Winton impact the children of Czechoslovakia?

• Yes.

• No.

Is this a strong essential question:

Is chocolate ice cream better than vanilla ice cream?

• Yes.

• No.

(Select all that apply.) A strong essential question should...

• lead to further questions.

• have no right or wrong answer.

• not have an easy-to-find answer.

• require research to answer effectively.