✏️ WritingGrade 6Lesson 17
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Choose a research question and sub-questions

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Distinguish between a broad topic and a focused, researchable research question
  • 2Write a focused research question that is specific and answerable through research
  • 3Develop three to five sub-questions that guide the research process
  • 4Evaluate whether a research question is too broad, too narrow, or appropriately focused
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Mini Lesson

Great research begins with a great question. A broad topic like "climate change" is not a research question — it is just a subject area. A research question is specific, focused, and answerable through reading, observing, or interviewing. It gives your research a clear direction and tells you exactly what you are trying to find out.

What Makes a Good Research Question?

  • Focused — it narrows the broad topic to one specific angle or issue.
  • Researchable — it can be answered with evidence from sources, not just personal opinion.
  • Open-ended — it requires more than a "yes" or "no" answer; it invites explanation.
  • Appropriate scope — not so narrow that one sentence answers it, not so wide that a library cannot cover it.

From Broad Topic to Focused Question

Example

Broad topic: Social Media

Answer:Focused research question: How does social media use affect the mental health of kids aged 11–14? Sub-question 1: What types of social media platforms are most commonly used by this age group? Sub-question 2: What does research say about the link between social media and anxiety? Sub-question 3: What strategies help young people use social media in a healthier way?

Why Sub-Questions Matter

Sub-questions break your main research question into smaller, manageable parts. Each sub-question focuses on one piece of the puzzle. When you have answered all your sub-questions, you have gathered enough information to answer your main question. Aim for three to five sub-questions — enough to cover the topic without becoming overwhelming.

Narrowing Your Research QuestionNarrowing Your Research QuestionBROAD TOPICe.g. Climate ChangeFOCUSED QUESTIONHow do teens reduce plastic waste?Sub-Q 1Who is affected?Sub-Q 2What causes it?Sub-Q 3What solutions exist?
Broad vs Focused QuestionsBroad vs Focused QuestionsBROADFOCUSED"What is theenvironment?""How does plasticharm ocean fish?""What istechnology?""How does screen timeaffect teen sleep?""What ishealth?""What foods reduceteen anxiety?"
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Tip: start your research question with words like "How", "Why", "What", "To what extent", or "In what ways". These starter words push you toward an open-ended, explanatory answer rather than a simple yes or no.

Vocabulary
research question
A focused, open-ended question that guides an entire research project.
sub-question
A smaller question that explores one specific aspect of the main research question.
broad topic
A wide subject area that needs to be narrowed into a specific question before researching.
focused
Limited to one specific angle or issue rather than covering an entire subject area.
researchable
Capable of being answered through evidence gathered from reliable sources.
open-ended
Requiring a detailed, explanatory answer rather than a simple yes or no.
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