Final answer:
The second step in the process of asking and refining a question to use as the basis of a research essay is refining the question further.
Step-by-step explanation:
The second step in the process of asking and refining a question to use as the basis of a research essay is refining the question further. After identifying a general question, the researcher needs to narrow down the scope and make the question more specific. This is done by considering the purpose of the research, the intended audience, and the genre for reporting the research. The researcher may need to revise the wording of the question multiple times to align with the characteristics of a good research question.