Final answer:
An effective research question for an informative essay must be linked to the writing prompt, be specific enough for the assigned essay length, and should not be based on a simple fact.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of an effective research question for an informative essay include several key elements. Here are the characteristics that apply:
It should be linked to the topic of the writing prompt.
It should be specific enough to fit the assigned length of the essay.
It cannot be a question that is based merely on a simple fact; it should encourage exploration and analysis.
An effective research question should not be overly tricky or impossible to answer, nor should it avoid addressing the topic in the prompt. Ultimately, a good research question should pique curiosity, be narrow enough to manage within the constraints of the essay, yet broad enough to be interesting and significant.