Break your Key Inquiry Question into three smaller questions in order to answer it sufficiently. 

Here is an example of a key inquiry question and three sub-questions that would help answer it: 

Example Key Question: 

“Why did Martin Luther King believe that social problems could be fixed through non-violent means?” 

Example Sub-questions: 

1. What were Martin Luther King’s beliefs about society? 

2. For what social problems did Martin Luther King want to find a solution? 

3. How did Martin Luther King imagine that non-violent practices could help? 

The Importance of Good Sub-Questions

Spend time thinking of good sub-questions. Well thought-out sub-questions can mean the difference between an average and an excellent essay.

Good sub-questions should:

• Be 'open' questions (This means that they cannot be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer. Usually this means starting the question with:  what, why, or how)

• Incorporate terms and concepts that you learnt during your background research

•  In answering each of your three sub-questions through source research, you will ultimately have an answer for your Key Inquiry Question.

Improving Your Sub-Questions

Even though you are required to create sub-questions at the beginning of your research process, it does not mean that they do not change. As you begin finding sources that help answer your original sub-questions, you will find that you will need to modify your questions. This is usually the result of discovering further, more specific, information about your topic. Improving your sub-questions during your source research stage will result in better topic sentences and, as a result, a better essay.

For example:

If your Key Inquiry Question was:

What role did the bombings of Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki have on Japan’s decision to surrender at the end of World War Two?

An initial and simplistic set of sub-questions could be:

1.  What role did the bombing of Tokyo have on Japan’s decision to surrender at the end of World War Two?

2. What role did the bombing of Hiroshima have on Japan’s decision to surrender at the end of World War Two?

3. What role did the bombing of Nagasaki have on Japan’s decision to surrender at the end of World War Two?

However, after conducting further research, they could be improved to:

1. What role did the March 9th incendiary bombings of Tokyo have on Japan's decision to surrender at the end of World War Two?

2. What role did the atomic bombing of  Hiroshima on August 6th  have on Japan's decision to surrender at the end of World War Two?

3. What role did the atomic bombing of Nagasaki August 9th have on Japan's decision to surrender at the end of World War Two?

Finally, after finding some detailed primary and secondary sources, they could be further improved to:

1. How did the March 9th incendiary bombings of Tokyo motivate emperor Hirohito to become more involved in ending the Second World War?

2. Why did the Japanese government not surrender after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on the 6th of August, 1945?

3. Why did Hirohito finally decide to surrender after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9th, 1945?

Quiz

What steps should you have completed before writing sub-questions? (Choose all that apply)

Find quotes from historical sources

Create a Key Inquiry Question

Conduct background research

Organise quotes according to the sub-questions

Sub-questions are...

...research questions that you write in order to help you answer your Key Inquiry Question.

...the main question that your research is aiming to answer.

...the point of view from which someone experiences a historical event.

...collections of names, dates, places and concepts you need for your research.

How many sections can a good Key Inquiry Question be broken into?

1

2

3

4

Sub-questions need to be 'open questions', which means that...

...they can be broken into three distinct sections.

...they do not have an answer.

...they can be answered with a single word.

...they cannot be answered with a single word.

In the example, what were the three elements from the Key Inquiry Question that were used to create sub-questions?

Causes (Political, economic, military)

Significance (Cultural, social, military)

Consequences (Long-term, short-term, immediate)

Nationalities (British, American, Canadian)