Questions

You are just beginning your research. If you’re learning about a topic that’s new to you, it’s important to //value your ignorance.// That sounds funny to say, but it’s true. Pay close attention to the questions you have now, because chances are good that they are the same questions any other reader would have on this subject. Let’s imagine you’re going to write a nonfiction piece about tattooing. What questions do you have? Get in pairs and talk about it for a minute. (Brainstorm and discuss as a class.) These are some questions most readers would have:

Is it safe to get a tattoo? Does it hurt? Can you get it removed if you don’t want it later?

These questions are good as starters. But you probably will want to revise your questions as you continue your research. After you have investigated tattooing, and answered those original questions, you might come up with new ones: What are the styles used by tattoo artists? What is the history of tattooing? You’ll want to find the answers to those, too. Start with what you don’t know. As you begin your research, take a minute to generate the questions //you// have on your subject.

  Lesson from //Nonfiction Craft Lessons: Teaching Information Writing K-8// by JoAnn Portalupi and Ralph Fletcher