Exercise 2.1: Finding the Questions


1. Psychology of serial killers with connection to world leaders


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



2. I am interested in the psychology of murder and what reasoning that may have evolved to cause such action. I am curious to see if I can find a connection with psychology of serial killers and world leaders. Interested in finding something shocking.


Briefly state why you chose this topic.



3. Hitler thought killing was the key. Serial killers are smart.

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.?



4. Is there a connection in psychology between world leader and serial killers?
What are some motivations that each may have to murder other people?
Can murder have good intentions?
How can society be aware and understand such acts?
Does society play the role of God to world leaders? This influences their decisions.
Is there any way to cure people who are sociopath?
Did Hitler influence other people into killing?



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.



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.




© 2000-2001 by Allyn & Bacon
A Pearson Company
Legal Statement