1 2 3 step to developing questions and advancing your indiv project

Steps:
1- lead in statement
2- Why this topic is "a problem or issue, that is, a conflict or something unsettled, perplexing, vexing, distressful, and in the need of investigation"
3- justifications for further inquisition (if you have the answers to (#2), answer “so what?”).

Sample:
1- Stem cell work is at the bleeding edge of medical research today.

2- For all the talk about stem cells, what actually transpires in the process of extracting and using the cells are still question marks to me. I've read plenty of papers on it, but the details on stem cell work ranging from medical theory, lab work, and replicable treatment trials are still areas of heavy debate between the various stake holders involved (academic, industry, politics etc).

3- A deeper understanding beyond the jargons of stem cell research would go a long way in focusing my thoughts on the viability of pursuing a career in this direction. If the key phases of stem cell work are better understood and shared by the major stake holders involved, we may be able to get a good deal closer to treating debilitating conditions such as cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Pulling questions:
Are the three sentences interlocking and do they suggest an unsettled or perplexing state? If not, go back and write re-write some more.

> What are the major steps involved in stem cell research? Who are the stake holders and what are their stakes in this area? Which points are being heavily debated, between whom and why? A background section could address such matters.

>Given the potential conflicts of interest, why or what could get the various stake holders to work toward standardizing practices? If this is feasible, is that a good thing? What potential flaws or benefits might derive from this?

The steps are interlocked, 1 to 2 to 3 to write, and 3 to 2 to 1 to filter responses. Step 2 is the most important part, the more you read, the more prepared you are to write step 2, and derive 3. Based on 2 and 3, you can pull out numerous individual questions you can pursue and find out more about, the resulting responses will make good material in organizing your ideas, making the poster and writing up the final paper. It’s worthwhile to do this iteratively, as you understand more of your topic area, each iteration will result in new thoughts and directions of inquiry.

*this method’s modified for applicability to the class project, based on Hernon and Schwartz’s original paper on writing problem statements for original research, published in LISR*