What is an inquiry project?
An inquiry project is an investigation driven by a question. Instead of just collecting facts, you ask a meaningful question, gather and analyze evidence from multiple sources, build an argument, and share your findings. This mirrors how historians, geographers, economists and political scientists work.
The inquiry process
- Wonder: explore a topic and develop a question.
- Investigate: find and evaluate sources.
- Analyze: interpret evidence and identify patterns.
- Synthesize: combine ideas into a coherent argument.
- Communicate: present findings in an essay, presentation or other format.
- Reflect: consider what you learned and what questions remain.
Writing a research question
A good research question is:
- focused: not too broad or too narrow
- open-ended: can’t be answered with yes, no or a simple fact
- arguable: invites analysis and judgment
- researchable: enough sources exist
| Too broad | Too narrow | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| What happened in World War II? | When did D-Day happen? | To what extent did Canada’s role in the Second World War change its relationship with Britain? |
| What is climate change? | How hot was it in 2023? | How effectively have carbon pricing policies reduced emissions in Canada? |
"To what extent…" and "How significant…" questions work well for analysis.
Finding and evaluating sources
Use a range of credible sources:
- Primary sources: documents, speeches, data, interviews, photos
- Secondary sources: scholarly books and journal articles, reputable news and reports
- Databases: library databases, government statistics, archives
Evaluate each source for credibility, bias, purpose and relevance. An annotated bibliography helps you organize: for each source, write the citation, a summary and an evaluation of its usefulness.
Taking notes
- Record the source for every note.
- Distinguish quotes (exact words in quotation marks), paraphrases (your own words) and your own ideas.
- Organize notes by sub-question or theme.
The thesis statement
A thesis statement is a clear, arguable sentence stating your main argument. It answers your research question.
| Weak thesis | Strong thesis |
|---|---|
| Canada was involved in WWII. | Canada’s role in the Second World War, especially its industrial and military contributions, transformed it from a British dominion into an independent middle power. |
| Carbon pricing is about climate change. | Carbon pricing has reduced emissions in Canada, but its effects have been limited by exemptions and political instability, suggesting it must be combined with other policies. |
A strong thesis:
- takes a position
- is specific
- previews the main points
- can be supported with evidence
- acknowledges complexity where appropriate
Synthesis
Synthesis means combining information from multiple sources to build your own argument, not just summarizing each source one after another. Group sources by idea, compare and contrast them, and show how together they support (or complicate) your thesis.
Weak (summary): Source A says… Source B says… Source C says…
Strong (synthesis): While historians A and B emphasize economic causes, C’s analysis of primary sources suggests political factors were equally important, which indicates…
Citation
A citation tells readers where information came from. You must cite:
- direct quotations
- paraphrased ideas
- statistics and data
- images, charts and maps
Common citation styles:
| Style | Common in | In-text example |
|---|---|---|
| MLA | English, humanities | (Smith 45) |
| APA | social sciences | (Smith, 2020, p. 45) |
| Chicago | history | footnote: ¹ John Smith, Title (City: Publisher, 2020), 45. |
Use the style your teacher requires, and be consistent.
Avoiding plagiarism
Plagiarism means presenting someone else’s words or ideas as your own. It includes copying text, paraphrasing too closely, failing to cite sources, and submitting work generated by AI tools as your own without permission and acknowledgement.
To avoid it:
- take careful notes with sources
- put quotes in quotation marks
- paraphrase in your own words and still cite
- keep track of all sources from the start
- follow your school’s rules on AI use
Communicating findings
Your project might be an essay, a presentation, a documentary, a podcast, a website or a museum-style exhibit. Whatever the format, it should have a clear thesis, organized evidence, analysis and proper citations.
Try it yourself
- Turn a broad topic into a strong research question.
- Create an annotated bibliography with five sources.
- Write and revise a thesis statement.
- Write a paragraph that synthesizes three sources.
Quick recap
- Inquiry projects investigate meaningful questions using evidence.
- A strong research question is focused, open-ended and researchable.
- A thesis statement takes a clear, arguable position.
- Synthesis combines sources into your own argument.
- Proper citation and avoiding plagiarism are essential.