One way to approach college research is to start with your own curiosity. What problems or questions interest you? What topics do you want to learn more about? Write your preliminary research question below, and then talk through it with two classmates.
Click Submit after each text box to submit your answers to your instructor’s gradebook. You may review your answers by returning to this activity at any time. (An activity reports to the gradebook only if your instructor has assigned it.)
Explain to your classmates the question you plan to research, the research conversation you expect to enter, and why this question is worth exploring. You might find it helpful to use phrases such as “I’m asking X to learn about Y because . . .” or “I’m entering X debate to learn more about Y so that my readers can understand Z.” Ask your classmates to suggest revisions to your research question to make it narrower, more challenging, or more grounded. With the comments of your classmates in mind, use the space below to revise your research question.