Social Studies Skills

Developing research questions:

• The research cycle: Question-research-question -research
  • Questions will reflect what you already know about the topic
  • Quickly look at your sources BEFORE you ask your questions!
• Questions should help you define your topic
  • Low level questions will help you identify your project
  • Low level questions will focus your project on what is important
• Do not just simply ask yes or no questions
  • Yes and no questions are low level
  • ELABORATE with your answers!
• Keep your questions focused, avoid broad or general questions
• Use key words
• Use the sheet "Thinking like a historian" to guide your questions
  • Try to fit your questions into one of the five areas on this sheet
  • Rewrite some of these "Thinking like a historian" questions to include your topic
• Your questions will change as your research your topic
  • The more you know, the better questions you will have
• The tough questions of all:
  • What makes your topic important
  • Why should we pay attention to your topic
  • What does your topic show us about the culture we are studying
  • What can we learn from your topic