Thick vs. thin research questions

THICK VS. THIN QUESTIONS

THIN= Right ThereWhen?Where?Who?How many?

THICK= Think and SearchWhy do you think…?What if…?How would…?What might…?

THE RATIONALE FOR QUESTIONING:

“Without questioning skills, you’re justa passenger on someone else’s tourbus. You may be on the highway butsomeone else is doing the driving.”

Jamie McKenzie

Thick vs. Thin Questions

What’s the difference?

ThickThick Questions• Don’t have just one right answer.• They begin with:

• Why...• How come...• I wonder...• “What would happen if?…” • “What does he/she mean by…”

THICK QUESTIONSTHICK questions address large,

universal concepts…

For instance, “What is photosynthesis?”

You could not answer that question with one word. The answers are long and involved and need to be researched.

Thin QuestionsQuestions that can be answered

with a number or a simple “Yes or No” fall in this category.

For instance, “How many planets are there?”

You use thin questions to understand specific details.

THICK vs. Thin Questions For Research

THICK questions = THINKING

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THICK OR THIN?• What is the significance of ….? • Describe the ____________. What was its significance?• How has ___________? • Why did these changes ….?• What would happen if…?

YOUR TURN….CAN YOU COME UP WITH SOME THICK QUESTIONS FOR YOUR

TOPIC?