Have you made a list of characteristics of a good research question? Which characteristics are most important? Compare your list of characteristics with those that appear in the word cloud below? Click on the cloud to make it appear larger in a new window.

How are the novels Mort and The Book Thief similar and different with regards to death?

For what reasons and to what effects do Terry Pratchet and Markus Zusak employ characterization and narration in Mort and The Book Thief respectively?

Notice how this improved version is more focused on the stylistic features of the primary sources and 'why' ("for what reasons") the authors wrote these works. The phrase "to what effects" also allows the essays to be more evaluative than descriptive.

How are American views on infidelity expressed through language?

Category 2b: How does the use of English by Tiger Woods and Bill Clinton in their confessional speeches reveal America’s attitudes toward marriage and infidelity in the 1990s?

Notice how this question has been moved from Category 2a to 2b and now refers to cultural artefacts, namely the speeches of two men. While the original question meets the 2a requirements, 2b essays are generally more focused because they require primary sources (cultural artefacts). Primary sources are a key ingredient in any Group 1,2 or 6 essay because Criterion C: Critical thinking refers to analysis and evaluation of primary sources. In the subject-specific guidance on Group 2 Extended Essays, the word 'analysis' appears, even though this word does not appear anywhere in the subject guide for Language Acquisition. Students are not allowed to write a Language B essay (Group 2) in a language that they are taking as a Language A (Group 1). The above-mentioned research question would also be very appropriate as an English A, Cat. 3 essay on 'language', which is IB-speak for 'non-literary text(s)'.

How were the 'killing fields' in Cambodia similar to or different from the holocaust?

To what extent were foreign influences the main cause in the Khmer Rouge’s rise to power in Cambodia in 1975?

Notice how this question cuts out the Holocaust and focuses on foreign influences as the main cause of the Khemer Rouge's rise to power in 1975. Most History essays receive a 'C' (see Statistical Bulletin), because they tend to be too descriptive and not evaluative or argumentative. Good History essay try to identify a causal relationship and persuade the reader (examiner) of the significance of these causes.

What are the effects of temperature on fruit that is ripening by ethylene?

What is the optimal amount of ethylene and the optimal temperature for bananas that ripen in sea containers?

Ethylene makes fruit ripen faster. This process is affected by temperature. These variables are already known and tested. But why do they matter? Every day bananas are transported in sea containers around the world. For grocery stores and their customers, it is important that bananas are not too ripe or unripe upon arrival. What data are available from shipping companies? How can experiments with bananas, ethylene various temperatures and spaces generate useful data for shipping companies? The improved research question puts a much greater emphasis on the significance of the research. Generally speaking, students who conduct experiments do better than students who only analyse other researchers' data.

How do Runs Batted In (RBIs) predict a baseball team's success?

How can the kinds of batting strageties described in the movie Money Ball be used to recruit players and create the optimal batting order?

Students are often told not to write their Extended Essay in Maths, because it is too difficult. Check out the Statistical Bulletin to see that many students do very well in Maths. Applied mathematics is popular for good reason. It addresses the relevance of maths to real-world problems. The 'mediocre' question could be too descriptive, exploring correlations between RBIs and wins in baseball. The 'improved' question does something with an already-proven batting strategy, which is explored in the movie Money Ball). It shows its relevance to the recruitment of players and a team's batting order, which are important responsibilities of baseball managers and coaches.

Why is M.C. Escher an underappreciated artist in his country of origin, the Netherlands?

To what extent and for what reasons have the works of M.C. Escher been received differently in the United States and the Netherlands?

The 'mediocre' question has built-in assumptions that the artist is underappreciated in the Netherlands. The 'improved' question explores how his works have been received differently in two countries. This exploration will require a broad range of secondary sources that review Escher's works, possibly in both English and Dutch. Cross-cultural comparisons are relevant for those who are interested in the artist, the commercialisation of art and what makes art 'art'.