Thinking About Questions Related to Research

Which Questions Matter?

Most important thinking requires one of these three . . .

Why?	Why do we have problems with the salmon in the Pacific Northwest and fisheries elsewhere?
How?	How can we change things for the better?
Which is best?	Given the choices before us, which is most likely to do the most good? Which plan is best? Which solution will work best?

These questions are typical of those found in tough new state tests. We select a great prime question and then make it the focus of a Research Module.

From “Prime Questions” by Jamie McKenzie. Posted at http://questioning.org/module/module2.html

Question Brainstormer for Students

	Topic:
Which one?
How?
What if?
Should?
Why?

Based upon a model in “For the Best Answers, Ask Tough Questions” by Joyce Valenza. Originally printed in The Philadelphia Inquirer April 20, 2000. Posted at http://www.joycevalenza.com/questions.html