Check your question! Better questions = better research!

• Is it a simple yes/no question? If you can boil the answer down to one word, it's not a strong research question! Ultimately you may be able to answer yes or no, but your question should elaborate on why or how as well. 

• Is it a scientific impossibility? If we know certain creatures/beings don't exist (zombies, dragons) reframe your question as something like "why are ______ portrayed as ________" or "why does the portrayal of _________ have cultural significance?" or "how have dragons been imagined in different cultures?"

• To ensure you have a strong research question, begin with one of the following: 

  • "How has the portrayal of...." or "How do [or did] depictions of...." 

  • "Why do...." 

  • "In what ways has..."

• Your question might then lead to...

  • "explore themes of __________" (examples: identity, human evolution)

  • "reflect society's views on __________________________" (examples: war, technology, ethics)

  • "why does ______________________ feel believable to readers/viewers" 

  • "shaped public imagination about ________" (AI, daily life, etc.)

YOUTUBE CITATION FORMAT:

Creator Name. "Title of video." Youtube, uploaded by __________, date published, URL.

*Note: The creator may be a person (last name, first name), or an organization such as The New York Times or CNN.  If the person/organization who created the video is the same as the one who published it, then skip the creator and begin the citation with the video title.

Example:

"Black Holes 101." YouTube, uploaded by National Geographic, 2018,  https://youtu.be/qZWPBKULkdQ.