Honing Your Question
Honing your question is the final step. When your preliminary inquiry is tentatively shaped, ask yourself some questions about your question:
- Is the scope of your question appropriate: not too wide, not too narrow?
- Is it manageable within the time constraints allowed?
- Will the answer fit the page and word requirements of the assignment?
- Can you find sufficient and timely information in the library?
- Will Internet, Web, and field research produce more source material?
- Is your question simple enough to seek just one answer, not several?
- Is it specific enough that your audience will understand your objective?
- Will the results be interesting? Does it concern a real and debatable issue?
- Does your question really interest you? Do you honestly crave the answer?