Inquiry and Research: Generating Inquiry Questions (TEKS.ELA.7.12.A)
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Texas 7th Grade ELA › Inquiry and Research: Generating Inquiry Questions (TEKS.ELA.7.12.A)
You're researching environmental challenges for a science project.
Which research question would best guide focused, manageable research on this topic?
How can we stop climate change?
How have city tree-planting programs reduced urban heat island temperatures in large Texas cities over the past ten years?
Should everyone be required to plant a tree?
How much did the temperature change on my street after one tree was planted last spring?
Explanation
B is specific (tree-planting programs and temperature effects), time-bound, and researchable using reports and studies. A is far too broad, C is opinion-based, and D is too narrow and unlikely to yield enough sources.
For a social studies investigation, you're exploring how drought affects communities in Texas.
Which research question would best guide focused, manageable research on this topic?
What is the history of water in Texas?
Will Texas run out of water by 2030?
How many gallons did the city of Blanco save on July 3, 2022?
How have recent droughts affected municipal water restrictions in Central Texas, and what conservation measures have cities implemented in response?
Explanation
D balances scope and focus by looking at a region, a clear impact (restrictions), and responses (conservation), all researchable via public records and news. A is too broad, B is speculative, and C is too narrow.
For a literature study, you're examining how setting influences character decisions in a novel your class read.
Which research question would best guide focused, manageable research on this topic?
In the class novel, how does the small-town setting shape the main character's choices and the decision to leave home?
How does setting affect literature?
Would the author agree with my opinion about small towns?
What color is the main character's house?
Explanation
A directly ties the setting to specific character decisions in one text, which is focused and analyzable with textual evidence. B is too broad, C isn't answerable through research, and D is too narrow and not analytical.
For a current events project, you're analyzing debates about school start times for middle schools.
Which research question would best guide focused, manageable research on this topic?
What do people think about school start times in general?
How many minutes did one student at my school sleep after a later start last Tuesday?
What effects have later middle school start times had on student sleep and attendance in districts that changed schedules in the past five years?
Would starting later make me happier?
Explanation
C targets specific, measurable outcomes (sleep and attendance) and a defined group (districts that changed schedules) within a clear time frame, making it researchable. A is too broad, B is too narrow and anecdotal, and D is personal opinion.
You're researching environmental challenges for a science project. Your goal is to investigate how human activities affect local waterways.
Which research question would best guide focused, manageable research on this topic?
How does runoff from neighborhood lawns affect the health of nearby ponds?
How can we stop pollution everywhere?
How many plastic bottles were thrown away at lunch last Tuesday at our school?
Will oceans be completely clean by 2026?
Explanation
A is specific (lawn runoff) and researchable (effects on nearby ponds) while still broad enough to explore causes and impacts. B is too broad, C is too narrow and time-limited, and D is a prediction that cannot be answered with available research.
For social studies, you're exploring Texas cattle drives and their impact on the state in the late 1800s.
Which research question would best guide focused, manageable research on this topic?
What is the complete history of Texas from settlement to today?
What did one cowboy eat for breakfast on June 3, 1871?
How did the development of the Chisholm Trail influence the growth of towns in North Texas during the late 1800s?
Was the Chisholm Trail the most exciting trail ever?
Explanation
C narrows the focus to one trail, a region, and a time period, allowing meaningful inquiry with available sources. A is far too broad, B is overly narrow and likely unanswerable, and D is subjective and not research-based.
In literature class, you're writing a research-supported essay to deepen understanding of a novel about a student's first year at a new middle school.
Which research question would best guide focused, manageable research on this topic?
What makes a book good?
What common themes appear in middle-grade novels about starting a new school, and how does the novel we are studying compare?
How many times does the word friend appear in the first three chapters?
Is this the best book ever written?
Explanation
B balances scope by focusing on a specific topic (starting a new school) and invites comparison to the class novel, enabling productive research. A and D are subjective, and C is too narrow and not analytical.
You're analyzing recent drought news in Texas for a current events report.
Which research question would best guide focused, manageable research on this topic?
Why is drought bad?
How many gallons of water does my neighbor use per week?
What will Texas weather be like ten years from now?
How have water restrictions in Central Texas cities changed household water use during the last two summers?
Explanation
D is specific to place and time and can be answered with reports and data, supporting meaningful analysis. A is too broad, B is overly narrow and not generalizable, and C is speculative.