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- Brandel Library
- Research Guides
- MUS 3010: Music History and Literature I
- Research Questions
MUS 3010: Music History and Literature I
Research Questions
Good Research Starts with Good Questions
A good research question is:
- Interesting to you. You will do better research and write a more engaging paper if you choose a topic that you find significant.
- Supportable with research (not just personal opinion).
- Precise. Defines the boundaries and direction of your research.
- Appropriately scoped for the length of the assignment (neither too broad nor too narrow).
Definitional and Interpretive Research Question
Definitional Research Questions | Interpretive Research Questions |
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The research/writing challenge:
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The research/writing challenge:
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Picking Your Topic IS Research
Preliminary Research
Before you can formulate a good question, some preliminary research is essential to help you gain an initial understanding of a topic.
Good starting places:
- your own interests or knowledge
- your textbook
- Grove Music Online / Oxford Music Online
- Google/Wikipedia (good for preliminary research only)
- your professor