Does a question mark in the URL affect ranking?

No it doesn't but it does mean that you are selling something... You shouldnt try to rank a sales affiliate link... because your only helping your competition... instead link to that page from your own landing page... much more uselfull not to mention you can rank and control that page much easier.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.