1. Unfortunately, this is what passes for a research model among many students

10. You are doing a investigative journalism paper on climate change in the Arctic. Where do you start?

11. “Climate Change.” Encyclopedia of the Arctic, 2005

14. Possible questions: 1. How fast is climate changing in the Arctic? 2. What’s causing climate change in the Artic? 3. Why is Arctic climate change more dramatic than climate change at the Equator? 4. Is current Arctic climate change a product of human-generated greenhouse gas or simply part of climate cycle patterns that have always been present? (Face indicates how bad or good the question is.)

15. Choose One Is current Arctic climate change a product of human-generated greenhouse gas or simply part of climate cycle patterns that have always been present?

16. Is current Arctic climate change a product of human-generated greenhouse gas or simply part of climate cycle patterns that have always been present? Now ask : What am I really looking for in the above question?

17. One situation Is current Arctic climate change a product of human-generated greenhouse gas or simply part of climate cycle patterns that have always been present? Two options Goal is to determine which option is most likely.

18. Is current Arctic climate change a product of human-generated greenhouse gas or simply part of climate cycle patterns that have always been present? This leads naturally to a possible outline: Introduction I. The Reality – Arctic Climate Change II. The Options A. Climate Cycle Patterns B. Human Generated Greenhouse Gas Conclusion

19. Here are some possible questions. Good or bad? “Is Globalization a good thing?”

20. Bad Why?

21. “Is Globalization a good thing?” What do you mean by “Globalization?” - Global economies? - Global politics? - Development of a Global culture? What do you mean by “good?”

22. “Does the development of global free trade actually improve the economic life of the poorest producers of goods?” Better:

23. ”Does the development of global free trade actually improve the economic life of the poorest producers of goods?” Introduction I.The Intended Purpose of Global Free Trade (to improve economic life) II.The Evidence (examples of the results of free trade among the poor) Conclusion

24. Another question Good or bad? “What are the difficulties facing homeless children and how can we help them further their education?”

25. Bad Why?

26. “What are the difficulties facing homeless children and how can we help them further their education?” 1. Two-part question, leading to two research projects rather than one. Note that the first part is really just a data gathering exercise, so that the real question is the second one. 2. Which homeless children? Where?

27. Better: “Given the challenges facing homeless children in inner city Vancouver, what is the best way to ensure that they get a good education?” (Subsuming the first question under the second to make one question) Outline: Introduction I. The Challenges Facing Homeless Children II. The Options Available to Ensure Good Education A. B. etc. Conclusion – The Best Option

28. Another question Good or bad? “How valid is the argument that legalizing all currently illegal drugs would cut crime and stabilize or diminish drug use?”

29. Good Why?

30. “How valid is the argument that legalizing all currently illegal drugs would cut crime and stabilize or diminish drug use?” 1.A narrow topic 2.Problem-solving focus (two sides, at least, to this issue). 3.Non-obvious answer 4.Capable of being researched (Evidence is out there) 5.The problem presented is clear and has a single focus

31. “How valid is the argument that legalizing all currently illegal drugs would cut crime and stabilize or diminish drug use?” Outline Introduction I. Arguments against legalization II. Arguments for legalization Conclusion (Note that the arguments would focus on potential crime and drug use benefits only)