Formulate a focused, answerable research question (CCSS W.7.7)
Exercise Difficulty 3 ~6 min eng.g7.f.ex_02

Scope Evaluation

Prompt

Evaluate these 4 candidate research questions for scope. Label too broad, too narrow, or just right + justify. (1) 'Tell me about the Roman Empire.' (2) 'What did Caesar eat for breakfast on March 14, 44 BCE?' (3) 'How did the Roman aqueducts affect public health in Pompeii during the 1st century CE?' (4) 'How did Roman engineering work?'

M-7-F-RES-EX-02-A Interactive Physical / non-image

4-question scope-check worksheet with label-and-justify lines. Print-ready 8.5x11.

Answer criteria
type classification
correct
  1. too broad (not a question)
  2. too narrow (impossible to source)
  3. just right (specific + time + place + effect)
  4. too broad (whole field)
Hints
  1. Just-right questions have 2-3 narrowing moves (specific subject + time + place or effect).
  2. If you'd need 50 sources, too broad. If you'd need 1 source, too narrow.
Misconceptions to watch
  • Labels question 4 as just-right (it's too broad).
  • Labels question 2 as just-right (it's so narrow no sources exist).
Used in lessons