Open source community has this problem ages ago. They have written comprehensive how to ask question guides. At first I would redirect poor questions to this link, which are in agreement with my opinions. But then I gave it another reading and found that I could revise it to make it less computer directed. Here is my initial effort, I will be slowly working on it. Some endorsement or contribution from the community would be very welcome so it show more legitimacy.
Personally I put about the effort in the question as I saw the asker did on making his question. I would probably put more if I find the question interesting and is not answered elsewhere.