This document discusses the importance of asking questions and different types of questions. It explains that closed or "red-light" questions that have simple, factual answers stop curiosity, while open-ended or "green-light" questions that require more thought and analysis, like "why", "how", and "which one" questions, promote deeper learning and research. The document provides examples of different types of independent research methods like historical study, action study, experimental study, and correlation study. It also offers tips for effective research, such as evaluating sources, taking notes, and including citations to avoid plagiarism.

1. Questions make the world work
Developed by Amy Provano
Media Specialist, Mt. Bethel Elementary School
Used with permission

2. We ask questions to ….
• Learn about the past
• Imagine the future
• Solve a problem

3. Where would we be if no one had
ever asked …….
• Can a man walk on the moon?
• Is there a way that computers could talk to
each other?
• Could we use our TV/computer to play games?

4. Those questions have all been
answered!
Neil Armstrong
Internet
Video Games

5. Some questions have easy answers
Who was the first president of the United States?
George Washington

6. Closed Questions
Red-light Questions
• Easy-to-find answers
• Usually only one answer
• Can be answered with yes
or no
• Can be answered with a
single fact
• As soon as you answer
you are done!

7. Closed Questions
Red-light Questions
Examples:
• What time is lunch?
• Where did I put my coat?
• Is it raining right now?
• Who is President of USA?

8. Closed Questions
Red-light Questions
Sentences that usually begin with:
• What
• Where
• When

9. But when all you ask are red-light questions,
you STOP yourself from being curious about the
world!

10. Open-ended questions
Green-light Questions
• Not so easy to answer
• Cannot be answered with
a couple of words
• Are much more interesting!
• Can take awhile to explain
• Answers are made up of
more then one piece of information

11. Most important thinking requires one
of these three Green-Light Questions

12. Why?
This question requires analysis of cause-andeffect
During the 1920s why was baseball called
America’s Pastime?

13. How?
This question is the basis for problem-solving
and the inventor’s favorite question.
How will technology impact baseball?

14. Which one?
This question requires thoughtful decision
making.
Which events in baseball history impacted laws
in the United States?

15. Open-ended questions
Green-light Questions
When you get one piece of
Information you keep going!

16. This is where questioning turns into
RESEARCH!

17. Independent Study Methods
•
•
•
•
Historical Study
Action Study
Experimental Study
Correlation Study

18. Historical Study
Asking questions that can be answered looking
at the past or history of the topic

19. Historical Study
Sources of Information?

20. Primary Sources
Original documents, objects, and other items
that were created at the time being studied and
that come directly from witnesses to the event
or historical period

24. Secondary Sources
An account or record of the past created after
an event or historical event

25. Start with an encyclopedia!
Find out the who, what, when, and
where!

26. Tips for using encyclopedia
Pre-search before you research!
• Use section headings to skim for facts
• Find keywords you can use when you research
with books, web sites or experts
• Look for references or external links from
online encyclopedias

27. Historical Study Sources of
Information
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Old documents
Photographs
Magazines
Newspapers
Internet
Books
Films
Historians
Eyewitness accounts

28. World Wide Web – Tsunami of
Information

29. Evaluating Sources
Who is the author of the source?

30. Taking Notes
Paraphrase - state information again in different
words

31. Taking Notes
Citation – giving credit to the source of
a fact, quote, or other information
Works Cited page at the end of your
research report or presentation

32. Independent Study Methods
•
•
•
•
Historical Study
Action Study
Experimental Study
Correlation Study

33. Action Study
• Ask a question that can be answered by
looking at an improvement to solve a problem
• Identify a problem to be solved

34. Experimental Study
• Ask a question that requires you to look at one
thing that may be changing while you try to
control other things
• Identify independent and dependent variables

35. Correlation Study
• Ask a question that requires you to compare
one thing with another thing using numbers
• Select samples that represent the general
population
• Collecting Data

36. People keep doing research all their lives!
Doctor
Weatherman
Judge/Lawyer
TV Reporter
Scientist
Businessman

37. Your Independent Study Topic
Historical Study
Asking questions that can be answered
looking at the past or history of the
topic

38. Your topic must be interesting to you!

39. Form green-light questions
about your topic

40. Presentation must have a technology
component

41. Check grammar and punctuation

42. No Plagiarism!

43. Works Cited
• Fontichiaro, Kristin, and Emily Johnson. Knowing What to Ask:
Forming Great Research Questions. Ann Arbor, Michigan:
Cherry Lake Publishing, 2013. Print.