Question Brainstormer
Question Stem |
Topic #1____________________ |
Topic #2__________________ |
Which one? (Collect information to make an informed choice.) E.g. Which 20th Century president did the most to promote civil rights? |
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How? (Understand problems and perspectives, weigh options, and propose solutions.) E.g. How should we solve the problem of water pollution in our neighborhood? |
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What if? (Use the knowledge you have to pose a hypothesis and consider options.) E.g. What if the Declaration of Independence abolished slavery? |
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Should? (Make a moral or practical decision based on evidence.) E.g. Should we clone humans? |
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Why? (Understand and explain relationships to get to the essence of a complicated issue.)E.g. Why do people abuse children? |
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Brainstorm two topics related to the unit we are studying. Use the cues to develop essential questions that will help you focus your research. You don’t need to fill in every box. (Created by Joyce Kasman Valenza and originally published in Power Tools Recharged. Chicago: ALA, 2004. 5-3A )
| Topic #1 Civil War | Topic #2 Shakespeare |
Which one? (Collect information to make an informed choice.) E.g. Which 20th Century president did the most to promote civil rights? |
Which Civil War general was the best military strategist?
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Which of Shakespeare’s tragedies has the most relevance for today’s politicians? Which of the characters in Romeo and Juliet is most worthy of punishment? |
How? (Understand problems and perspectives, weigh options, and propose solutions.) E.g. How should we solve the problem of water pollution in our neighborhood? | How did the scientific advances of the 19th century affect the outcome of the Civil War? (Students might choose among advances in communications, transportation, weaponry, etc.) | How does Shakespeare’s subplot help us better understand the themes of _____? |
What if? (Use the knowledge you have to pose a hypothesis and consider options.) E.g. What if the Declaration of Independence abolished slavery? | What if General Lee had better intelligence at Gettysburg?
| What if Brutus had made the final funeral oration in Julius Caesar? |
Should? (Make a moral or practical decision based on evidence.) E.g. Should we clone humans? | Should Confederate symbols be used in official state flags and logos today?
| Should Hamlet have minded his own business? |
Why? (Understand and explain relationships to get to the essence of a complicated issue.) E.g. Why do people abuse chldren? | Why did Great Britain favor the South during the Civil War?
| Why do Shakespeare’s plays continue to have meaning for today’s students? Why does Shakespeare use so many references to the natural and unnatural in Macbeth? |
