RES+sample+questions

Questions Pick a sample subject area below to see a list of sample questions you might want to explore during the course of your research project.

Biography

 * When was the person born?
 * Where did the person live?
 * What did the person do to become famous?
 * What is known about the person’s childhood and family life?
 * What other events are known about the person’s life?
 * What was happening in the time/area the person lived?
 * What key events in the person’s life do you think influenced him or her to make the decisions he or she made?
 * What abilities did the person possess?
 * How were/are other people influenced by the person?
 * What people influenced the person to do what he or she did?
 * What did other people have to say about this person during the time he or she lived? How about later?
 * What did you learn from the life of the person?
 * Is the person still alive? If not, how and when did the person die?
 * What is the person’s legacy?

Country

 * Where in the world is this country?
 * What is the climate of this country?
 * What languages are spoken in this country?
 * What ethnic groups live in this country?
 * Are there any well-known geological features in this country? What are they?
 * What kind of government does this country have?
 * What kinds of religions are practiced in this country?
 * What natural resources does this country have?
 * What does this country export? Import?
 * What kind of food is eaten in this country?
 * What kind of relations does this country have with other nations?
 * What other nations does this country trade with?
 * What customs are associated with this country?
 * How would you characterize the economy of this country?
 * What kind of influence does this country have on the world?
 * How have specific issues or conflicts impacted this country’s current political, social, or economic conditions?

Historical Event

 * When did this event happen?
 * Over how long a period did this event occur?
 * Was there a definitive beginning and ending to this event?
 * Where did this event occur?
 * Who was involved? Was anything or anyone else affected?
 * What precipitated (brought about) this event?
 * Why was this event significant?
 * What were the social, economic, or political impacts of this event?

Animal

 * What does the animal look like?
 * How big is the animal?
 * What is the scientific name of the animal?
 * What is the habitat of the animal?
 * What does the animal eat?
 * Does the animal have any natural predators? If so, what are they?
 * What is the life expectancy of the animal?
 * What interesting adaptations or behaviors does this animal exhibit?
 * How would the disappearance of the animal affect the food chain?
 * What would happen if the animal was placed in an alternative biome?

Literature (Fiction)

 * Who is the author of this work?
 * How would you characterize this work in terms of structure and genre?
 * Is this work a novel or a selection of short stories?
 * Where is the setting of the story? Is it a real location or an imaginary one?
 * When does the story take place?
 * What is the plot of the work?
 * Who are the main characters?
 * What literary genre does this story fall under (for example, is it historical fiction? [|Satire]? [|Allegory]?)
 * What kind of [|imagery] does the author use?
 * How does the author introduce the theme of the work?
 * What [|motifs] can you identify in the work?
 * What is the central motif of the work?
 * Which elements in the work contribute to its central motif?

Literature (Nonfiction)

 * Who is the author of this work?
 * Is this work a biography, memoir, or a history? Another type of nonfiction?
 * Where did the events in the work take place?
 * When did the events in the work take place?
 * What is important about the events that took place in the work?
 * What background information would help someone understand what happened in this work?
 * Does this author cite his or her own sources?
 * What [|primary sources] does the author refer to?
 * How can you evaluate the author for credibility and the validity of the work?
 * Does the author present multiple points of view? How?

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