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Start Your Research - A Self-Guided Tutorial

A tutorial to take you through the research process.

9 - Topic

Turn Your Topic into a Question

Question Words - Who, What, Where, Why, How

When you've chosen a topic, it’s time to ask some questions. Using “environmental issues” as our general research interest, let’s ask some questions about environmental issues and agriculture.

See examples:

WHO: Consumers, Farmers, Farm Workers

WHAT: Food Safety, Pesticides, Food Prices, Genetically Modified Food, Organic Farming

WHERE: United States, Developing Nations, European Union

WHY: Why does the European Union ban the sale and distribution of genetically modified food?

HOW: How do government agricultural subsidies impact the price of food? How does the use of pesticides affect food safety?