5 Components of Inquiry:
1. Formulating questions
2. Gathering and organizing information, evidence/ or data
3. Interpreting and analyzing information, evidence and/or data
4. Evaluating information, and drawing conclusions
5. Communicating findings
Various questions that might help you investigate your community:
What do you want to understand more deeply?
What big questions will you explore?
What is important to know about this?
I want you to move beyond simple fact-based questions and to questions that encourage critical thinking. I also want you to rank your questions based on how "thick" or "deep" each one is. Give each question a score of 1-3, with 1 being an information generating question, 2 being a question that requires more analysis of information, and 3 being a true critical-thinking question.
Good inquiry questions:
Do not just encourage yes-no answers
Encourage more than simple factual answers
Answer why, how, or what if
Encourage analysis of information
Encourage critical thinking
Use Activitiy Sheet: Inquiry Jot Notes (A9.1) to organize your research.
Summative task (brochure):
You are to communicate and expand your research of your inquiry findings in a brochure.
You are write an introductory paragraph (outlining the topics that will be presented)
You are to write a paragraph answering each inquiry question
Concluding paragraph (summarizing the information presented and identifying overall significance of the local community)
