Wednesday, SEPT 12th

Friends,

The heart of research is knowing what questions to ask. In other words, the best researchers are those who are naturally curious about the world in which they find themselves. We call this personality trait "intellectual curiosity." Meaning, the most effective researchers are not the people who already have all the answers, but rather the people who can see questions where there might not appear any. I've italicized that for a reason. Take a moment to reread it.

So today, let's practice "The Art of Raising Questions." Here is what I'd like you to do.

1. Read this very short post.  After you've read it, come back to our blog and review the next steps.

http://janabouc.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/wasps-nest/






(Write down your responses the below questions.)

2. In order to have a solid/masterful understanding of this post, what words or ideas or terms would you need more information on? What resources would you use to gain this information (a person, a local company, Google?).

3. In what way does this post relate to your life (either specifically or metaphorically)?

4. If you could contact the artist/author, what would you ask her? Why would you ask these questions?

5. What purpose (beyond "basic understanding of what we're reading") might we have for researching questions we raise about this post?

In other words, we want our writing to have a practical value, a real-world use. (We don't want to write for the sole purpose of having it graded; that's not why people write.) So, here is what I really want to you consider (and then tell me):

• Under what conditions or context would a person want to read what you eventually write?
• Can you imagine how the knowledge you eventually create (as a result of your research here) might be of personal to you one day? Explain.
• Not every single person on Earth is going to be interested in reading what you eventually write for this assignment. However, many people will. So be awake for how who you're writing to changes as your purpose changes.

OK. I look forward to seeing what you come up. I will be walking around, helping, clarifying where possible, smiling, enjoying your company.