Asking Questions

Now ask: Now that we know what was included and what was left out, what would we need to know to be sure we’re getting the whole story about the Titanic?

Have students start with a blank page and spend three or four minutes writing down as many questions as they can think of. Tell them not to discuss, judge, or start to answer any questions yet.

• If you want, you can have students do this in pairs, with each student writing down the other’s spoken questions. If students are not able to write down their questions as quickly as they think of them, you can have them use the Reflection Recorder.

When students have finished, have them go through their lists and change any statements (such as “the Titanic sank quickly”) to questions (such as “Why did the Titanic sink quickly?”)

Have students access the student chapter Information Sorting Record or display it on a screen or digital whiteboard.

Have students choose between one and three questions from the class list.

• You can assign them to choose one, two, or three questions, depending on their grade level and your assessment of the class’s research ability.

These should be the questions they think will be most helpful in helping them get the whole story about the Titanic.

• You may wish to provide them with resources for doing this or have them use the MediaSmarts school safe custom search engine.
• If you allow students to do an open search, distribute and go through the handout How to Search the Internet Effectively.