Cecil County Public Schools -
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BEPAC Central Office Personnel Policies/Procedures Press Room School Board School Information Superintendent » Administration Page

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Athletics Digital Databases Dress Code (PDF) Policies/Procedures Student Education Planning Guide School Menu Web-Based Lessons » Students Page

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Step 2: Question

This step guides students to form an essential question or thesis statement and then break it down into the subsidiary questions that will guide their research. Subsidiary questions structure the research by defining what needs to be investigated and how the information gathered should be analyzed. Subsidiary questions also provide the keywords and synonyms that will be broadened or narrowed to develop multiple and flexible terms for accessing information in the next step of the Research Cycle.

Cognitive Skill Levels	Identify Types of Questions : Classification
	Compose Questions : Synthesis
	Form Subsidiary Questions : Broadening, Narrowing, Refining
	Refine Topic to Thesis : Broadening, Narrowing, Refining
Indicators Addressed	*Social Studies*	6.0.C Ask social studies questions	6.0.C.1.b Pose questions about the topic
			6.0.C.1.c Formulate research questions
			6.0.C.2.c Pose questions about the situation/issue from a variety of perspectives
			6.0.C.2.d Pose questions that elicit higher order thinking responses
			6.0.C.2.e Formulate research question.
	Skills for Success	Thinking Skills 2.3 The student will demonstrate strategic thinking in a variety of situations to make effective decisions and achieve goals.	2.3.A.b The student will frame questions, problems and issues in an appropriate context.
	*Library Media*	1.2 Form questions based on the identified information question.	1.2.6 With assistance, students will create question trees showing the relationships between the essential question and its subsidiary questions.
			1.2.8 Students will compose essential questions and their subsidiary questions.
	MD Tech Literacy for Students	6.0 Demonstrate the ability to use technology and develop strategies to solve problems and make informed decisions.	6.0.8.A.2.b Use technology to help formulate a reserach questions about a problem/situation that requires further study.
Instructional Examples	Middle School
	High School

Use the links below to explore instructional aspects of this step in further depth:

Identify Types of Questions

The Question Chart

Questioning Toolkit.
Compose Questions

Turning Questions into Queries.
Form Subsidiary Questions

Narrowing a Research Question

Analyzing Questions Template

Refine Topic to Thesis

Forming a Thesis Statement.

Reference Support: Refining your Topic

Thesis Statements: Anchors to Essay Success

To be added: Student Research Workbook.

Social Studies Research / Pre-search / Question / Plan / Gather / Sift & Sort / Synthesize / Evaluate / Produce

Related Links

Step 2: Question