* Eliminate vague/ambiguous terminology
* Add new concepts to narrow and focus your question appropriately (you may want to ask who, what, where, when, why/how...to help with this)
* Avoid asking research questions that lead to simple "yes" or "no" answers
* Avoid asking research questions that lead to summaries describing one perspective.
* Ask research questions that require analysis and thought. The answer to your research question should require you to make an assessment based on what you've learned.
* Your question should ask or imply questions such as why, should, how, to what extent does, etc.
A simple descriptive or informative annotated bibliography
NOTE: the links below will show you examples of annotations at a more advanced level. Follow your professor's directions for what information should be included in your annotations.
The videos below review advanced search techniques that will help you focus your searches so they are more effective.