A research question or thesis statement is a declaration of purpose that indicates what it is that you intend to explore and discuss in your paper. Establishing a research question will assist you in two ways:
Most students start with a topic that is too broad. Here are some ways you might narrow the focus of your topic:
When you have reached the point where you can articulate a focused research question, you are ready to start your search for resources.
"Reading up on a topic and explaining it is not research" (Badke 21). The process of summarizing data is called “data-as-goal” and it has problems such as:
On the other hand, following the “data-as-tool” model can be more rewarding, because it:
One final warning: Always approve your topic and research question with your professor BEFORE you go further.