Formulating Your Research Question and Thesis Statement

Summary

This script outlines the critical steps in formulating a research question and thesis statement. It emphasizes avoiding simple yes/no or factual questions, and instead, crafting questions that allow for analysis, synthesis, and argumentation. The script provides examples, such as evaluating George Washington's military effectiveness, to illustrate how a research question should invite debate and scholarly contribution. It then explains that a thesis statement is essentially the answer to this question, which should be clear, compelling, and serve as a roadmap for the paper's structure and arguments.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The importance of narrowing down a research topic to a specific question to avoid information overload.
• ❌ Avoiding simple yes/no or factual questions that don't provide depth for research.
• 🤔 The necessity of a research question that allows for analysis, synthesis, explanation, and argumentation.
• 💡 A good research question should be debatable but not so controversial that it lacks substance.
• 📝 Creating a thesis statement that is a direct answer to the research question, providing direction for the paper.
• 👍 The thesis statement should be clear, concise, and compelling to engage the reader.
• 📈 Examples provided to illustrate how to formulate a thesis statement based on different research questions.
• ✍️ The process of refining the thesis statement through rewriting to ensure it accurately reflects the paper's intent.
• 🗂️ The thesis statement's role in organizing information and arguments into a coherent structure.
• 🔙 The thesis statement serves as a reference point for guiding the flow and content of the paper.

Q & A

Why is it important to have a research question when conducting research?

A research question is crucial because it helps to avoid being overwhelmed by information and options, allowing you to select relevant information and discard the rest. It also aids in understanding how different pieces of information will be related and interconnected in your research paper.

What kind of questions should be avoided when formulating a research question?

Questions with simple yes or no answers or those that have straightforward factual answers should be avoided. These types of questions do not provide enough substance for in-depth research and discussion.

What are the characteristics of a good research question?

A good research question should produce an answer that allows for analysis, synthesis, explanation, demonstration, illustration, and argumentation. It should also provide opportunities to present evidence and cite authorities on the topic.

How does a research question help in structuring a research paper?

A research question helps in structuring a research paper by guiding the selection and organization of information. It ensures that the paper is focused and that all arguments and evidence presented support the main points of the research.

What is the relationship between a research question and a thesis statement?

The thesis statement is essentially the answer to the research question. It provides a clear position or argument that the research paper will explore and support with evidence and logical arguments.

Why should there be room for debate in a research question?

There should be room for debate in a research question to ensure there is substance to discuss and analyze. However, the debate should not be contrived; it should reflect genuine scholarly conversations and contribute meaningfully to the subject.

How should a thesis statement be phrased in relation to the research question?

A thesis statement should be a direct answer to the research question, phrased in a way that sets the stage for the main points of the paper. It should be clear, concise, and spark interest, leading into the explanation of how and why the stated position is valid.

What is the purpose of a thesis statement in a research paper?

A thesis statement serves to provide direction and focus to the research paper. It acts as a roadmap, helping the writer to organize information and arguments logically and ensuring that each part of the paper contributes to supporting the thesis.

How can a thesis statement help in writing the introduction of a research paper?

A thesis statement helps in writing the introduction by providing a clear and concise summary of the main argument or position that the paper will take. It sets the tone for the paper and gives the reader an immediate understanding of what to expect in the discussion that follows.

What is the role of evidence and logical arguments in supporting a thesis statement?

Evidence and logical arguments are essential in supporting a thesis statement as they provide the foundation for the claims made. They help to convince the reader of the validity of the thesis by demonstrating the research and critical thinking that underpin the argument.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Crafting a Research Question and Thesis Statement

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of transforming a research topic into a focused question and then into a thesis statement. It explains that a research question is essential for managing information and understanding the interconnections between various data points. The paragraph advises against simple yes/no or factual questions, advocating for questions that allow for analysis, synthesis, and argumentation. It provides examples of how to formulate a research question and corresponding thesis statements, such as evaluating George Washington's military effectiveness during the French and Indian War. The paragraph also stresses the need for a thesis statement to guide the structure and flow of a paper, ensuring that all information presented supports the main argument.

05:00

📝 Utilizing the Thesis Statement as a Guide

The second paragraph discusses the role of the thesis statement as a guiding tool throughout the writing process. It suggests using the thesis statement to answer the question, 'What do I say next?' by considering potential reader confusion, challenges, and desired information. The paragraph highlights that a well-crafted thesis statement helps in systematically deploying arguments and evidence, ensuring that the content of the paper or article is coherent and logically structured. It serves as a reference point for determining the sequence and transitions of information, making the writing process more organized and the final product more persuasive.

Keywords

💡Research Question

A research question is a focused inquiry that guides the investigation of a specific topic. It is crucial for narrowing down the scope of research and ensuring that the study remains manageable and relevant. In the video, the research question is described as a tool to avoid information overload and to select and discard information methodically. For instance, the script suggests that a good research question should not be answerable with a simple 'yes' or 'no', but should instead allow for analysis, synthesis, and argumentation.

💡Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the position or argument that the researcher intends to support in their paper. It is the answer to the research question and serves as the central point around which the paper is structured. The video emphasizes that the thesis statement should be clear, compelling, and directly related to the research question. It gives examples such as evaluating George Washington's effectiveness as a military commander, where the thesis statement would either affirm or negate his effectiveness and provide reasons.

💡Relevance

Relevance in research refers to the connection between the information gathered and the research question or thesis statement. The video stresses the importance of selecting information that is pertinent to the research topic and discarding what is not. This concept is integral to ensuring that the research remains focused and contributes meaningfully to the scholarly conversation.

💡Analysis

Analysis in the context of research involves breaking down information into its constituent parts to understand it better. The video mentions that a good research question should allow for analysis, which means it should be complex enough to be examined in detail, providing depth to the research and allowing for a thorough exploration of the topic.

💡Synthesis

Synthesis is the process of combining separate pieces of information to form a coherent whole. The video suggests that a good research question should enable the researcher to synthesize information, which means putting together different pieces of evidence or arguments to support a comprehensive understanding of the research topic.

💡Evidence

Evidence in research is the empirical data or logical arguments used to support a claim or hypothesis. The video highlights the need for evidence in backing up claims within a research paper, emphasizing that a strong thesis statement is one that can be substantiated with evidence and citations from authoritative sources.

💡Argument

An argument in research is a logical presentation of reasons or evidence intended to support a claim. The video discusses how a research question should allow for the deployment of different arguments to support the answer to the question. This involves making a point and providing evidence to prove that point, which is a key aspect of scholarly writing.

💡Debate

Debate in the context of research refers to the discussion or contention of an issue, often with the aim of reaching a conclusion. The video mentions that there should be room for debate in a research question, indicating that it should be open to different interpretations and not so one-sided that it stifles discussion.

💡Scholarly Conversation

Scholarly conversation refers to the ongoing discourse within an academic field, where researchers contribute new insights and perspectives. The video encourages researchers to aim for contributions that are real and substantial to this ongoing dialogue, suggesting that the research should add value to the existing body of knowledge.

💡Transitions

Transitions in writing are the words or phrases that connect one idea to another, helping to guide the reader through the paper. The video implies the importance of transitions in organizing the information and arguments in a logical sequence, ensuring that the paper flows smoothly and each point builds upon the previous one.

💡Logical Arguments

Logical arguments are statements used in reasoning that are intended to persuade the reader of a particular point of view. The video stresses the importance of logical arguments in connecting pieces of evidence to support the thesis statement, which is essential for constructing a coherent and persuasive research paper.

Highlights

The importance of narrowing down a research topic into a specific question to avoid information overload.

A research question should be complex enough to allow for analysis, synthesis, explanation, and argumentation.

Avoiding yes/no questions and simple factual answers for research questions.

The necessity of a research question to connect and interrelate pieces of information in a paper.

The role of a research question in selecting relevant information and discarding the rest.

Creating a research question that allows for debate but is not overly contentious.

The goal of contributing something substantial to the scholarly conversation.

Transforming a research question into a thesis statement as the answer to that question.

The structure of a thesis statement should be clear, concise, and engaging.

Examples of thesis statements for various research questions.

Thesis statements as a roadmap for organizing the presentation of evidence and arguments.

The function of a thesis statement in guiding the writer through the writing process.

How a thesis statement helps to logically connect pieces of information and arguments.

Thesis statements as a tool for self-reflection and addressing potential reader confusion.

The importance of rewriting the thesis statement until it effectively communicates the intended message.

Thesis statements as a foundation for the structure and flow of a paper.

Transcripts

Once you have decided on your narrow and specific research topic, the next step is to turn it

into a research question, and to be able to rephrase that research question as a thesis

statement.

You need a research question because otherwise you will be overwhelmed with information and

options.

A research question helps you select pieces of information that are relevant, and discard

the rest.

It also helps you understand how all those separate pieces of information will be related

and interconnected in your paper.

First, I want to simplify the process of creating a research question by talking about what

you should NOT do.

If a question has a simple yes or no answer, like, "Do raccoons hibernate in the winter?"

it's not going to be a good research question.

Yes/no questions don't give you enough to write about.

The same is true for questions that have a simple factual answer, like, "How many people

die in skiing accidents each year?"

A good research question produces an answer that gives you plenty to talk about.

You can analyze, in other words, break it down into pieces.

You can synthesize, in other words, put the pieces together.

You can explain, demonstrate, and illustrate.

You can make arguments where you back up your claims with evidence in order to prove your

point.

The research question gives you opportunities to deploy different arguments to support your

answer.

It also requires you to present evidence and cite the ideas of other authorities on the

topic.

You will be able to fill up all the required pages of your paper with a carefully structured

presentation of why your answer is the best answer out there.

Looking at the research topic of George Washington's military career in the French and Indian War,

a possible research question is, "Was George Washington an effective military commander

in the French and Indian War?"

The answer could conceivably go either way.

There's room for debate.

That room for debate needs to exist so you have something to say, but don't make the

mistake of defending an unpopular position just for the sake of being contrary.

Much of the time, positions are unpopular for a good reason.

There needs to be room for debate, but not too much room.

Your goal should be to contribute something real and substantial to overall scholarly

conversation about the subject.

Once you have your research question, the next step is creating your thesis statement.

This part is simple.

The thesis statement is your answer to your research question.

So if my research question is "Was George Washington an effective military commander

in the French and Indian War?"

my thesis statement is either, yes he was and here's why, or no he wasn't and here's

why.

Of course, when I write the introduction to my paper, I have to phrase it more formally

and with more detail.

It could be, "George Washington was an effective military commander in the French and Indian

war because his leadership in the Battle of Monongahela helped to save what remained of

General Braddock's army."

Or it could be, "George Washington's failure to adequately fortify Fort Necessity, and

inability to enlist the help of Native fighters in that region made him an ineffective military

commander during the French and Indian War."

You're probably going to want to write and rewrite it a few times until it flows well

and says exactly what you want it to mean.

Try to make it as clear as possible, and give it some punch.

It needs to spark interest and launch you into your explanation of how and why what

you said is true.

Let's do a few more examples.

Beware that I'm making no attempt to be factually correct here.

I just want to show you the structure.

If your research question is, "What impact do invasive fish have on waterways?"

your thesis statement could be, "Invasive carp have spread throughout the Mississippi

river basin and destroyed the river ecosystems by stripping riverbeds of algae and plants."

If your research question is, "What is the significance of sheep imagery in the Christian

Bible's Book of Revelation?"

your thesis statement could be, "In the Book of Revelation, the sheep symbolizes both obedience

to God's will and a sacrificial offering to God to expiate sin."

If your research question is, "What is the relationship between childhood trauma and

dissociative identity disorder in adulthood?"

the thesis statement could be, "While most adults with dissociative identity disorder

have a history of childhood trauma, only a very small fraction of children who survive

trauma develop dissociative identity disorder as adults, because most of them deploy other

coping mechanisms."

So, long story short, your thesis statement is just the answer to your research question,

but make sure to phrase it in a way that properly leads into the main points of your paper.

Without a thesis statement, you would have dozens of pieces of information to give your

reader, but no real idea what order to present them in, or how to transition from one to

the next.

A thesis statement helps you to get your ducks in a row, so to speak.

With the thesis statement, every piece of information is part of an arsenal of evidence

to support the thesis.

You connect them with logical arguments and transitions.

The thesis statement is what you go back to every time you ask yourself, "What do I say

next?"

Look at what you've already said, and say, "If I were my reader, what would I be confused

about now?

What point would I be challenging now?

What would I want to know next?"

When you answer that in a systematic way, deploying your arguments and evidence, that

is the content of your paper or article that you're writing.