From Prompt to Purpose

By Dr. Salika Lawrence

“Write about a historical figure” is an example of how I typically framed research prompts. These kinds of prompts were simple, safe, and guaranteed clear deliverables. But it also felt flat. Students repeated the same facts and filled in templates. I wanted more.

Then I started using inquiry-based and project-based learning and reworked the way I launched research units. Rather than the prompt about historical figures I asked: “Whose story isn’t told in your history textbook?” The shift was electric. Students began exploring family histories, local archives, and marginalized narratives. They interviewed grandparents, challenged textbook omissions, and debated historical silences.

It wasn’t about meeting a word count anymore—it was about voice and student-led inquiry. By changing the prompt, I gave students a purpose that mattered.

Tools and strategies are only powerful when paired with meaningful questions. Inquiry isn’t about the format—it’s about the drive behind the work.