5W + 1H and Yes - No Question

5W + 1H

: An Effective Approach to Collecting and Presenting Key

Information
One of the most universally used tools for information gathering, analysis, organization
and presentation is the 5W1H framework. This method is used across a range of
professions, from process analysts to quality engineers to journalists, to understand and
explain virtually any problem or issue. The same method can be used to organize the
writing of reports, articles, white papers, and even whole books.
The Basic Approach
This approach seeks to answer six basic questions in gathering information about nearly
any subject: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. Sometimes, depending on the
context, a second "H" might be used: How Much.
In journalism, news story writing requires that the questions to be answered take a basic
form:
1. Who is it about?
2. What is it about?
3. When did it happen?
4. Where did it happen?
5. Why did it happen?
6. How did it happen?
Applying the 5W1H framework to other types of writing or investigation takes some
interpretation. The order in which the answers to the questions is presented may vary,
but the "what" is usually addressed first.
What
In journalism, the "what" identifies an event and is often stated in the "lead (or lede),"
the first paragraph of a news story. The "what" is the primary subject, the reason the
information is being gathered and presented. Apart from journalism, it may be stated in
a title and in a purpose statement. The "what" may need to be defined, a process that
may comprise the remainder of a document.
Example : What, specifically,...?
Who
A news story identifies who an event involves. The "who" may be part of the lede, and
could be the reason the story is news worthy. In other contexts, the "who" identifies the
persons or groups the "what" concerns. It might describe the audience of a document, or
those who are affected by a policy, process or procedure.
Example : Who benefits?
When
A key part of a news story is describing when an event happened. Answering the
"when" indicates any time sensitivity related to the "what." It may be part of an
instruction regarding the proper point at which a action should be taken. Sometimes it
may be part of an "If...then" scenario of conditional action.

Example :

When will it start/end?

Where
A news story reports the location at which an event took place. The "where" describes a
geographical or physical location of importance to the "what." At times, the where may
be less important than other factors.
Example : Where are you?
Why
The "why" is usually the most neglected of the questions in the framework. News
stories often lack information from authoritative sources to explain the "why." In other
contexts, the "why" may be considered irrelevant, particularly when describing a policy
or procedure decreed by an organizational authority. Efforts to ascertain and explain the
"why" may help those affected be more accepting of any change the "what" requires.
Example : Why does that happen?
How
For journalists, determining how an event took place may be nearly as challenging as
explaining the "why," although more effort is usually put to satisfying the question.
When describing policies, processes or procedures, the how may be the most important
part of the effort. A considerable appetite for understanding how to do something can be
found across audiences. Sometimes effort focuses on the "what" when more work
should be devoted to explaining the "how."
Example : How much?
Conclusion
The 5W1H framework can be applied to any topic at any level of granularity to gather,
analyze and present information from the simplest to the most complex. Attributed to a
Rudyard Kipling poem, 5W1H is the place to start and may be enough to take you to the
finish.

Yes No Question
Definition: An interrogative construction that expects an answer of "yes" or "no."
Contrast with wh- question.
Examples and Observations:
Homer : Are you an angel?
Moe : Yes, Homer. All us angels wear Farrah slacks.
(The Simpsons)
"Directing a movie is a very overrated job, we all know it. You just have to say 'yes' or
'no.' What else do you do? Nothing. 'Maestro, should this be red?' Yes. 'Green?' No.
'More extras?' Yes. 'More lipstick?' No. Yes. No. Yes. No. That's directing." (Judi Dench
as Liliane La Fleur in Nine, 2009).
Principal McGee: Are you just going to stand there all day?
Sonny: No ma'am. I mean, yes ma'am. I mean, no ma'am.
Principal McGee: Well, which is it?
Sonny: Um, no ma'am.
(Eve Arden and Michael Tucci in Grease, 1978)

The yes-no question is found in three varieties: the inverted question, the typical
exemplar of this kind; the inverted question offering an alternative (which may require
more than a simple yes or no for an answer); and the tag question:
Are you going? (inversion)
Are you staying or going? (inversion with alternative)
You're going, aren't you? (tag)
The inverted question merely inverts the subject and the first verb of the verb phrase of
the corresponding statement pattern when that verb is either a modal or an auxiliary
verb or the verb be and sometimes have. The question itself may be positive or negative:
She is leaving on Wednesday.
Is she leaving on Wednesday?
. . . A positive question appears to be neutral as to the expected response--yes or no.
However, a negative question seems to hold out the distinct possibility of a negative
response.
Are you going? Yes/No.
Aren't you going? No.
(Ronald Wardhaugh, Understanding English Grammar: A Linguistic Approach. WileyBlackwell, 2003)
"There are many different ways to format questions on a survey. Let's say you want to
measure people's attitudes toward premarital sex. You could ask a simple yes-no
question:
Are you in favor of premarital sex?
___ Yes ___ No
Or you could use a Likert-type scale where the question is phrased as a statement."
(Annabel Ness Evans and Bryan J. Rooney, Methods in Psychological Research, 2nd ed.
Sage, 2011) Also Known As: polar interrogative, polar question, bipolar question

Example of 5w 1h Questions


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

WHAT :
What do you want?
What do you mean?
What are you doing now?
What are you talking about?
What can I do for you?
What do you like to drink?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

WHO :
Who is reading now?
Who is helping tony?
Who is goig home?
Who knows the answer?
Who is coming here?
Who are you talking about?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

WHEN :
When will you be back?
When will you start?
When shall we meet?
When you build your house?
When you can help me?
When is your birthday?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

WHERE :
Where are you going?
Where is it?
Where can I sit?
Where shall we go?
Where will you move to?
Where are you now?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

WHY :
Why are you sad?
Why you dont invite me?
Why do you study English?
Why doesnt she sweep the floor?
Why are they late?
Why do you hate me?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

HOW :
How old are you?
How long will you stay here?
How does She love you?
How do you answer that?
How do you know?
How much does it cost