Exercise 2.1: Finding the Questions


1.


In the space below, write the title of your tentative topic (e.g. Internet addiction)
God and People Today


2.


Briefly state why you chose this topic.
I chose this topic because it is a very interesting subject to me. It is uncomfortable to a lot of people and I want to know why. It is very important yet nobody hardly talks about it.


3. -


Spend about five minutes listing what you already know (if anything) about your topic. For example, are you aware of any interesting facts, common
misconceptions, your own assumptions, important people or institutions involved, key schools of thought, the extent of the problem, current trends, etc.?


I know that we have freedom of religion
- " separation of church and state.
- I heard that in college, 80% of people come in believing there is a god and that 20% come out still believing.
- I know its a very important subject.
- scandals in the Catholic church
- 9/11

4.


Now spend at least fifteen minutes brainstorming a list of questions about your topic you’d love to learn the answers to. Make this list as long as you can, and
don’t worry whether every question is a good one.
How do people see God in the world today? How do people in america see God that is different from other countries? Why is the topic of God so uncomfortable to people? Why cant teachers teach God in public school when they can teach evolution? what were the changes that occured over this century and why did they change? What is Americas relationship with God after september eleventh? If the college fact is true, why does this happen? What does the declaration of independence say? How has todays government interpreted it? What does the Bible say? What about religious sdchools? Are they effective? What are they trying to do? What are the reasons for no prayer in school? What happens if someone does? Why is it a problem when people try and teach the Bible, when teaching almost anything else is Ok? What do everyday people have to say about it?


5.


If you’re working in a computer lab (or generating hard copies of the exercise), your instructor may ask you to comment on other students’ responses to Steps
1-4. Focus particularly on what your classmates did in the fourth step. For each you view, do two things: add a question you would like answered about the
student’s topic, and mark the question you find most intriguing.




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