• Serve as "doorways" through which students explore the key concepts, themes, theories, and issues within the content.
• Elicit interesting and alternative views.
• Raise other important questions.
• Spark connections and promote the transfer of ideas from one setting to others.

Examples of Essential Questions

• When is error unavoidable in measurement?  What margin of error are acceptable?
• In what ways might a government guard against abuses of power?
• To what extent can a fictional story be "true"?
• How do recent developments in genetics affect the nature v. nurture argument?
• In what ways does art reflect, as well a shape, culture?

From Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe