Asking Effective Questions

A good question is both answerable and challenging, inspiring analysis, synthesis, interpretation, and critical thinking. Questions on a passage should encourage students to articulate and uncover new meaning in the material. You don’t need to have a specific answer in mind for the question you ask, but you should think in advance about the kinds of answers your question may elicit.

TYPES OF QUESTIONS

Here are some types of questions that tend to facilitate thoughtful, sustained discussions: (Note: the sample questions are taken from a French Literature class! Please feel free to design your own sample questions appropriate to your discipline for your students.)

Analysis

Questions beginning with “Why…” “How would you explain…” “What is the importance of…” “What is the meaning of”

EXAMPLE: WHAT IS THE MEANING OF MADAME X’S COMMENT ABOUT JACQUE’S ACTIVITIES THE WEEK BEFORE THEIR ENCOUNTER AT THE OPERA?

Compare and Contrast

“Compare…” “Contrast…” “What is the difference between…” “What is the similarity between…”

EXAMPLE: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MOTHER AND THE FATHER’S ATTITUDES TOWARD THE DAUGHTER’S RELATIONSHIP WITH PHILIPPE?

Cause and Effect

“What are the causes/results of…” “What connection is there between…”

EXAMPLE: WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF LEA’S DISTRESS WHEN SHE LOOKS AT HERSELF IN THE MIRROR?

Clarification

“What is meant by…” “Explain how…”

PITFALLS

Here are some types of questions that you’ll want to avoid and that can lead to dead ends in discussions:

Simple Yes-No

“Is the Aunt expressing a desire for Gigi to marry?”

Produces little discussion and encourages guessing.

Elliptical

“What about the aunt’s sexual history?” “Well, what do you think about the Don Juan’s values?”

Too vague; it is not clear what is being asked.

Leading

“Don’t you think that Colette is condemning the Don Juan figure for his lack of caring?”

Conveys the expected answer.

Slanted

“Why are Colette’s young women so corrupt?”