TO: Mrs.

Hofmann FROM: Jenna Huffstetler RE: Inquiry Project Memo Pre-Library Visit Explanation: In the past few class periods of English, students have been researching topics and learning the importance of research and inquiry. We started to read The Curious Researcher by Bruce Ballenger and practicing exercises that will give an idea on what topic to use for writing. I ended up with a bunch of controversies as topics. I felt that having a controversy as a topic would be too difficult to do a project because there are so many in-depth factors that have to be included and some readers could have been insulted if I didnt end up putting all views into it. So between the people and places categories, I chose to pick the topic Alaska and specifically its melting glaciers. We were then asked to do a Working Knowledge activity giving definitions, debates, people, and context about our subjects. Since then, we were asked to print out 2-3 stories and their sources of our choice (not having to have the same topic/subject). I decided to stick with the first topic of Alaska/Antarctica and its melting glaciers from the beginning. I have gradually tweaked it after I have learned more and more about the inquiry/research cultural project. I havent experimented that much on more than one topic, but at this time I feel that it may be most promising because I have interest and think it would be a great topic for readers and for the people who may be affected by my topic which will eventually be everyone in hundreds of years. Concept/Idea: Melting of Glaciers Situated with one culture or across cultures: Alaskan Population or Alaska vs. Greenland population Potential inquiry question: How does the melting of glaciers and its effects affect the populations of Alaska vs. Greenland and what do they plan to do about the situation?

My connection to the topic has to go back to me not only being environmentally friendly but also wanting to go to Alaska in the future. I have recently researched on what the terms glacier, glacier melts, and global warming are. A glacier is known to be a slowly mass of ice formed by the accumulation of snow on mountains or near the poles. The melting of glaciers is known to be caused by global warming which is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earths atmosphere. The effects of global warming cause a glacier retreat which is a condition occurring when backward melting at the front of a glacier which eventually melts and runs off in the ocean nearby. I see that the melting of glaciers can address the problem of how this can or will affect the families of Alaska/Greenland that surround the glacier as plates tend to move within the earth. There is questioning on if the families will evacuate their homes, have alternatives for when something will happen, or if they do not care about the subject and have no ideas on what to do towards the situation.

I have a few questions about my topic: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Am I at a good start with my research and working knowledge? Was I wrong to focus on this one topic or should I try another topic? Do you think I will find the information needed for my cultural project? Is my inquiry question more of an informational or background question? Will I be able to frame my topic in terms of concept and culture? What more can or should do? How much more detailed do I need to be?

At this point, I plan to go to the library and see if I can find any informational books or database articles that will tremendously help me on my journey to have a successful cultural inquiry project to display in front of the class at the end of the semester. I hope that my specific culture that I plan to research more on will have information that I can use to make more sense within my topic. I also plan to value the feedback given and work from there.