QFT Question Formulation Technique A STEPBYSTEP GUIDE Materials

QFT: Question Formulation Technique A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE Materials modified from: www. rightquestion. org

Why QFT? � Sometimes questions are more valuable than answers. The key is knowing what questions to ask. � What is the right question? Is there only one right question? How do we find the right question? � Quite simply, it depends. Is there a singular right question sitting in the wings waiting to be discovered? Usually not. It takes a lot of question generation to figure out what questions will lead us to our ultimate goal. � How do we even start figuring out what questions to ask?

THE QUESTION FOCUS (QFOCUS) The QFocus is exactly that: a focus around which you will build your questions. The QFocus could be the potential subject of a research paper, the problem that you need to solve or… The foundation of a Socratic discussion!

Your QFocus: IF IT ISN’T ILLEGAL, IT ISN’T WRONG. Write the QFocus at the top of your paper. Don’t do ANYTHING else yet!

2 RULES FOR PRODUCING QUESTIONS www. rightquestion. org

RULES FOR PRODUCING QUESTIONS § Ask as many questions as you can. § Do not stop to answer, judge or to discuss the questions. § Write down every question exactly as it is stated. § Change any statement into a question. Write these rules down on your paper. www. rightquestion. org

RULES FOR PRODUCING QUESTIONS § Before you start question generation, review the rules. § Reflect about one of these questions: What do you think would be difficult about following these rules? Which one of these rules might be difficult to follow? Why? www. rightquestion. org

3 PRODUCING QUESTIONS Joel Pardalis@mr. Pardalis students using the QFT www. rightquestion. org

PRODUCING QUESTIONS Review the QFocus: � Produce as many questions as you can in the allotted time. One member of the group is the note-taker. Make sure it is a question, not a statement. Your aim is to get as close to 10 questions as possible. � You are producing questions about the Qfocus statement, keeping your book in mind to help guide the questions. � Follow the Rules for Producing Questions. TIP: The note-taker should also contribute questions. www. rightquestion. org

4 CATEGORIZING QUESTIONS CLOSED -ENDED OPENENDED www. rightquestion. org

CATEGORIZING QUESTIONS Define closed and open-ended questions: � Closed-ended Questions can be answered with a “yes’ or “no” or with a one-word answer. � Open-ended Questions require more explanation. www. rightquestion. org

CATEGORIZING QUESTIONS Look over your questions and: � mark the questions that are closed-ended with a “C” � mark the questions that are open-ended with an “O” � Questions marked with a “C” need to be reworded. How can you change a “C” question into an “O” question? www. rightquestion. org

5 PRIORITIZING QUESTIONS www. rightquestion. org

PRIORITIZING QUESTIONS Choose five questions that… • most interest you. • you consider to be the most important. • you want/need to answer first. www. rightquestion. org

Your QFocus: IF IT ISN’T ILLEGAL, IT ISN’T WRONG.