Step 2: Search for compelling
articles that suggest a question
For this step, you should search news outlets and find two (2) interesting articles associated with the profession you are in or want to join. Look for articles that indicate there is a problem to solve.
The two articles you find should be on different topics so that you have a backup topic should the first one not work out.
As you look for articles, some over-used topics to avoid include:
- Abortion
- Cannabis
- Cell phones
- Gun control
- Healthcare reform
- Marriage
- Religion
- Vaccinations
- Violence in video games/movies
An example
While searching for an example for this assignment a few semesters back, I found an article at The Hindu. In the image that accompanies the article (Figure 1), we see sea life at risk. One could find several questions to ask in relation to this article. At the time, one question folks were asking is...who is most culpable for the situation?
Figure 1: Hermit Crabs Struggle for Life
There are several potential answers to this question. One could look into the question and find that oil companies, lawmakers, or consumers are most culpable. Other, more nuanced, answers are also possible, as are different questions. For example, how can this be prevented?
IMPORTANT: As you work through this assignment, keep in mind that you want to avoid rhetorical questions, which are questions that can be answered in only one way. In addition, you want to avoid questions that result in yes/no or either/or answers, as well as questions on topics that are too current to research. The material associated with the Research Question Quiz was designed to help you formulate an appropriate open-ended question, so refer to your notes and the videos provided in that module.
Where to begin
A good place to begin looking for articles is Google News, where you'll find links to articles associated with events from a variety of news sources.
Notice that Google News categorizes articles. To find an article particularly interesting to you, start by pursuing a question related to the profession you are in or would like to join. For example, nursing students might choose to click the Health link to find health-related articles, while business students might choose the Business link.
Important: You are looking for two (2) articles to focus on. The articles should be on two different topics. Remember that you are looking for a problem to solve. Once you have found two articles, proceed to Step 3.
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