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Step 2 Checklist
Step 2 Checklist
Update your Research Reflection Space (RRS) as needed
Attend Research Question Seminar from Mrs. Jdi in IB Core
Begin drafting potential research questions
Start filling out Steps 1-6 from the research proposal.
Continue researching
Use credible peer assessed academic sources, e.g. JSTOR, Proquest, etc.
Visit curated list of databases for usernames and passwords
Be aware of our CAS EE timeline
Step 2 Deadlines
Step 2 Deadlines
Jan. 5-9, 2026 - RQ Seminar in IB Core (linked below)
January 16, 2026 - Research Question brainstorm due on Schoology (see Step. 2 Write your RQ document below)
January 30, 2026 - 2 Research Proposals DUE (1st and 2nd choice subjects)
February 2-6, 2026 - Subject teachers review proposals and students are assigned to a supervisor
February 13, 2026 - EE Contract DUE to Mrs. Jdi
Command Terms for how to phrase your RQ
Command Terms for how to phrase your RQ
Question starter:
Question starter:
To what extent ...
How accurate/reliable ...
How far could one argue …
How successful …
How crucial/significant ...
Which factors played ...
How has the introduction (or cancellation) of… resulted in ...
What is the contribution/ influence of ...
What evidence is there to support ...
What is the impact of ...
Under what circumstances ...
Description
Description
Allows for an evaluation of the degree (extent) to which something is true or a contributing factor. To effectively answer this type of question, the main body of the essay should include considerations of other influencing factors.
Allows for an exploration relating to accuracy or usefulness
Allows for the analysis to focus on the accuracy/truthfulness of a specific argument or line of enquiry
Allows for an evaluation of the success of an approach, method, policy, style etc on an associated area
Allows for an analysis of the significance of one or more factors on other associated areas
Allows for an investigation around key factors
Allows for a cause/effect style investigation
Allows for a focused investigation on the impact (positive or negative) of a certain individual, group, material or concept on a broader area
Allows for an investigation into the nature of evidence and the extent to which it can support a thesis or approach
A straightforward causal investigation
Allows an investigation into the considerations required before X is deemed possible.
All research questions should be:
Focused on a single problem or issue
Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
Specific enough to answer thoroughly
Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly
Writing Strong Research Questions
You will usually write a single research question to guide your progress in a research paper or academic essay.
Your answer then forms your thesis statement—the central assertion or position that your paper will argue for.
How to write a research question
How to write a research question
You can follow these steps to develop a strong research question:
Choose your topic
Do some preliminary reading about the current state of the field
Narrow your focus to a specific niche
Identify the research problem that you will address
The way you frame your question depends on what your research aims to achieve. The table below shows some examples of how you might formulate questions for different purposes (McCombes).
The way you frame your question depends on what your research aims to achieve. The table here shows some examples of how you might formulate questions for different purposes. (McCombes)
Using your research problem to develop your research question
Using your research problem to develop your research question
Works Cited
McCombes, Shona. “Developing Strong Research Questions | Criteria and Examples.” Scribbr, 26 Oct. 2022, www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-questions/.
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