- The research question is the heart of your essay. It is not the same as your topic. Instead, the research question is what you want to find out about that topic. It asks you to do more than just list your answers. It forces you to take a stand, develop an argument and defend your position.
- If you don't know much about your topic, you may actually need to spend a few days (or weeks!) doing research so that you can learn enough to be able to develop a good question. The research question in the Extended Essay guides everything you do, so it is important to spend the time it takes to write a good one.
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Unclear, unfocused and unarguable research questions
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Clear, focused, narrow research questions lending themselves to in-depth research
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What was the impact of Ho Chi Minh’s allegiance to Lenin?
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To what extent was nationalism the guiding factor in Ho Chi Minh’s adoption of Leninism in 1920?
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What is the history of Chinese theatre?
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How does the legacy of Mei Lan Fang contribute to modern Jingju?
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How important is chlorophyll to plant life?
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What is the effect of different concentrations of kinetin on leaves aging and the biosynthesis of chlorophyll?
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How can the US government’s spending policy be reformed?
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To what extent did the rising COE prices affect the demand for new and used cars by the consumer population and hence affect the revenue generated by the Singaporean economy for the period 2012–16?
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Source: IBO
