Question:
How do I ask a question to elicit the most helpful answer?
Answer:
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I’m happy to answer questions but over the course of my advising career, I’ve found that many people don’t know how to ask questions in order to elicit a useful answer. Here are a few tips, applicable whether you’re asking in-person or on-line:
Is the question just about you or would this be of interest to readers generally? What do I need to know to answer your question? Provide enough--but not too much--background so I can comment intelligently. Don’t ask yes or no questions; frame questions so they may prompt a real answer. Don’t try to disguise a statement as a question. You know what I mean: someone gets up, offers a tirade against something and then says “so what do you think about that?”by Ellen Reeves, College Students See more answers by Ellen »
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