Strong vs. Weak Questions

To be a good detective, you have to ask the right kinds of questions. In AP Seminar, some questions lead to dead ends, while others open up entire investigations.

🚫 Weak Questions

Weak questions are research dead-ends because they:

  • They have a single, factual answer (a "Google Question").
  • They are a simple yes/no.
  • They are biased and just state an opinion.
  • They are way too big to be answered in a research paper.

✅ Strong AP Seminar Questions

Strong AP Seminar questions are ready for research because they are:

  • Complex: They require more than a simple answer and have multiple perspectives.
  • Focused: They narrow in on a specific group, place, or problem.
  • Arguable: Reasonable people could have different answers based on evidence.
  • Relevant: The answer to the question matters to a larger conversation.

✍️ Action: In your composition book, create two columns labeled "Weak" and "Strong." List two characteristics for each type of question.