Home > Subjects > English > English level 3 > 3.7 Research > Subject content > Key questions
- Subject: English
- AS: 90726
- Level: 3
- Credits: 4
- Internal
3.7 Complete independent research on a language or literature topic and present conclusions in writing
Key questions
To be able to make conclusions and judgments from your notes it is important to ask the right type of question. Use open questions starting with 'how' and 'why' rather than closed questions starting with 'when' or 'where', which only require short answers. Be prepared to review your questions as you begin to select information.
For literature and language topics you could base your key questions around some of these aspects:
- background information
- attitudes of an era
- people involved
- issues
- results
- consequences
- comparison and/or change
- use of language and style
- purpose of the text.
Try to ask questions which allow you to make comparisons, evaluate and interpret information across a range of sources. Download "In Search Of" (Word 254KB) and scroll to page 5 'key questions'. For advice on writing questions see "A Question of Language" (Word 277KB) and scroll to page 4 'Task 1'.
