2. The Inquiry Process – Stage 1
Exploring a Question
What is it? “Exploring a Question” is often (but not always) the beginning of an inquiry process
There are two main steps:
1. A person poses (asks) real questions about something they do not understand.
2. A person finds resources (information) to answer his/her question(s)
ALSO NOTE: The order for these 2 steps does not matter. Sometimes, you may have a question
and then you look for an answer. At other times, you may first learn about something and then have a
question after learning. Then, you simply find other resources to learn more!
STAGE 1
Exploring a
Question
What kind of questions can I ask? Anything! This is science! You may ask about anything you wish!
But remember, finding an answer may not always be possible.
What kind of resources can I use? There are various types of resources to use. For instance:
1. Read a book
2. Search the Internet
3. Use a computer program like a simulation
4. Ask somebody such as your teacher, your parent or even your
classmate.
** Also, remember! Not everything you read or hear is always true. It is important to be critical of
your resources too!
3. PARAPHRASING – Help Handout
What is Paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing is the _________________ (changing) of the writer or speaker’s words into your own
words. It is used most often when you need to _____________________ that someone else wrote or
said.
Why Do We Paraphrase?
Paraphrasing is important when writing a ________________. You CANNOT write exactly what
someone writes or says. It is __________________________ for you to copy EVERY WORD! Also, it
is _________________________ to them and their work. You must learn to “take the information” and
write it as your own. (ie. in your own words”)
How to Paraphrase?
There are many ways to paraphrase. The following ways are the most basic ones.
Also, keep in mind, you can also COMBINE different ways AT THE SAME TIME. In fact, for method 3,
you almost always NEED to do this.
Method 1- _______________________________________
Here, you make changes to the actual words, word phrases or even sentences. You can use synonyms,
change affirmative (positive) parts to negative parts and even use other expressions. IMPORTANT- the
overall meaning of the sentence must remain the same.
Example- Mr. Zions says, I encourage all students to study hard.
Paraphrase- Our teacher pushes all of his student to study as hard as they can.
Method 2 - _______________________________________
Here, you simply change the order that words are given by the writer/speaker in the sentence. You can
also make minor changes to the grammar or certain words too to make the sentence accurate.
Example- Mr. Zions says, I encourage all students to study hard.
Paraphrase- Mr Zions’ students are all encouraged to study hard.
Method 3- _________________________________________
Here, you break sentences or sentence parts OR you combine different sentences or parts of different
sentences to make new combinations. Probably, you will need to change certain words as well so that
the sentence is accurate.
Example- Mr. Zions says, I encourage all students to study hard.
Paraphrase- Mr. Zions told me something. He wants all students to study hard.
4. Paraphrasing Practice Handout
Instructions- 1. Read the text for each question.
2. After you read, paraphrase the content. (ie. Write what was said in your own words)
using the method stated for each part
3. Share your answers with the class later.
QUESTION 1-
A. Paraphrase by Method 1 (Change the words)
Text My Paraphrase (using Method 1)
I hope to be an airplane pilot when I __________________________________________________
grow up. I will fly around the world __________________________________________________
every week. I will also travel around __________________________________________________
different cities in other countries. I can __________________________________________________
wait to eat new kinds of dishes too! __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
B. Paraphrase by Method 2 (Change the word order)
Text My Paraphrase (using Method 2)
I hope to be an airplane pilot when I __________________________________________________
grow up. I will fly around the world __________________________________________________
every week. I will also travel around __________________________________________________
different cities in other countries. I can __________________________________________________
wait to eat new kinds of dishes too! __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
C. Paraphrase by Method 3 (Combine or break sentences)
Text My Paraphrase (using Method 3)
I hope to be an airplane pilot when I __________________________________________________
grow up. I will fly around the world __________________________________________________
every week. I will also travel around __________________________________________________
different cities in other countries. I can __________________________________________________
wait to eat new kinds of dishes too! __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
5. QUESTION 2-
A. Paraphrase by Method 1 (Change the words)
Text My Paraphrase (using Method 1)
Many research papers have shown __________________________________________________
that many students in America are __________________________________________________
overweight. One reason is many __________________________________________________
children like to eat fast food such as __________________________________________________
hamburgers. Also, another problem __________________________________________________
may be changes in life style. For __________________________________________________
example, many students choose to __________________________________________________
play computer sport games instead of __________________________________________________
playing sports outside. __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
B. Paraphrase by Method 2 (Change the word order)
Text My Paraphrase (using Method 2)
Many research papers have shown __________________________________________________
that many students in America are __________________________________________________
overweight. One reason is many __________________________________________________
children like to eat fast food such as __________________________________________________
hamburgers. Also, another problem __________________________________________________
may be changes in life style. For __________________________________________________
example, many students choose to __________________________________________________
play computer sport games instead of __________________________________________________
playing sports outside. __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
QUESTION 3-
A. Paraphrase by Method 3 (Combine or Break Sentences)
Text My Paraphrase (using Method 3)
"The Antarctic is the biggest source of __________________________________________________
cold on our planet, just as the sun is __________________________________________________
the source of our heat. The Antarctic __________________________________________________
greatly affects our climate. The cold __________________________________________________
ocean water flows north to mix with __________________________________________________
warmer water in tropical areas. This __________________________________________________
mixing helps to cool the water of other __________________________________________________
regions and their atmosphere too. __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
6. B. Paraphrase by ANY Method
Text My Paraphrase (using any method)
"The Antarctic is the biggest source of __________________________________________________
cold on our planet, just as the sun is __________________________________________________
the source of our heat. The Antarctic __________________________________________________
greatly affects our climate. The cold __________________________________________________
ocean water flows north to mix with __________________________________________________
warmer water in tropical areas. This __________________________________________________
mixing helps to cool the water of other __________________________________________________
regions and their atmosphere too. __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
7. ______________________– Help Handout
___________________________? It is a brief retelling of the contents of a passage (reading) IN
YOUR OWN WORDS.. Strictly speaking, you simply paraphrase the entire reading. It is not your job to
give your opinion on anything. That would be a different kind of paper--a summary-response, a critique,
or a position paper. While it is hard to give concrete guidelines for length, many good summaries
are about 1/3 the length of the original.
__________________________________-
1. READ For the _________________________ (thesis)
Read one time and take general notes on important parts of the reading such as the subject, the
writer, the setting and
the most important points
After you read, study your notes and think about what you read and what you write
In 1-2 sentences, write down what the WHOLE reading is about (ie. write down the main idea)
(Hint: Often (but NOT ALWAYS!), the speaker will tell the main idea in the first part of the reading
USE PART 1 of the SUMMARY ORGANIZER HANDOUT FOR THIS STEP
2. READ for the _____________________________ Read again and AGAIN (AND
AGAIN !…)
As you read again, notice the speaker will (normally) write about one particular idea or subject matter
and then go onto another idea. Each idea will have a slightly different content. Often there will be a
separate paragraph or separate paragraphs for each idea (but not always!). At the same time, all ideas
will relate to the MAIN IDEA. These ideas are called SUPPORTING IDEAS.
Try to “pick out” each supporting idea (there may be as little as one idea OR as many as four or five
in each story)
Write down ONLY 1-2 sentences for each supporting idea
USE PART 2 of the SUMMARY ORGANIZER HANDOUT FOR THIS STEP
MODEL OF SUMMARY PARAGRAPH – DAY 1
Sentences 1-2 - ____________________________
Sentences 3-4 - ____________________________
Sentences 5-6 - ____________________________
… ETC (until the last supporting idea)
8. EXAMPLE SUMMARY – DAY 1
This reading is on how people in Nigeria cheat in school. MAIN IDEA
It is very easy to get good grades in school in Nigeria. SUPPORTING IDEA 1
Furthermore, students can “rent” smart students to write
the exams or other papers for them. SUPPORTING IDEA 2
9. A Drug That Could Give You Perfect Visual Memory
A group of Spanish researchers reported today in Science that
they may have stumbled upon a substance that could become
the ultimate memory-enhancer. The group was studying a
poorly-understood region of the visual cortex. They found that if
they boosted production of a protein called RGS-14 (pictured) in
that area of the visual cortex in mice, it dramatically affected the
animals' ability to remember objects they had seen.
Mice with the RGS-14 boost could remember objects they had seen for up to two months.
Ordinarily the same mice would only be able to remember these objects for about an
hour. The researchers concluded that this region of the visual cortex, known as layer six
of region V2, is responsible for creating visual memories. When the region is removed,
mice can no longer remember any object they see.
If this protein boosts visual memory in humans, the implications are staggering. In their
paper, the researchers say that it could be used as a memory-enhancer –which seems
like an understatement. What's particularly intriguing is the fact that this protein works on
visual memory only. So as I mentioned earlier, it would be perfect for mapping. It would
also be useful for engineers and architects who need to hold a lot of visual images in their
minds at once. And it would also be a great drug for detectives and spies. Could it also
be a way to gain photographic memory?
10. SUMMARY – Organizer Handout
Step 1: Read one time. * Take notes too if you want! Reading Notes
Step 2:
Write the Main Idea (1-2 sentences) –_________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Step 3: Write the supporting ideas. Write in the small boxes first!
Step 4: Write the supporting details. Write in the bigger boxes later!
Supporting Idea 1 (1-2 sentences)
Supporting Details 1 (1+ sentences)
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Supporting Idea 2 (1-2 sentences)
Supporting Details 2 (1+ sentences)
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
12. ________________________________________
What are they?
The supporting details are a ______________________ of a supporting idea. In
other words, they give extra information about the supporting idea.
How to Write Supporting Ideas?
There are ___ steps: 1. _______________________ of the detail.
Details can be:
______________
______________
______________
______________
** Even a _____________ of the above!
2. __________________ the supporting details.
Briefly explain the details in your own words and be simple!
13. The Summary
Main Idea
Supporting Idea 1
Details!
Supporting Idea 2
Details!
Etc.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22. The Inquiry Process – Stage 3
Creating a Procedure
Overview- You have explored a question and you now have a prediction and hypothesis. Now, it is time
to test (prove) your prediction and hypothesis. How can you do that? You need to make a procedure.
What is an inquiry procedure- An inquiry procedure is a written plan that you make (and later follow) to
test out a prediction and hypothesis.
Procedure Parts- there are 4 main sections in an inquiry procedure.
Section 1 Purpose- in this section, you write your prediction and hypothesis.
Section 2 Materials- in this section, you make a list of the materials you will need to carry out your
procedure.
Section 3 Directions- in this section, you write a list of steps to follow to test your prediction and
hypothesis.
Section 4 Chart(s) and Diagram(s)- Here, you create charts or diagrams to help you make
observations when you follow your directions later.
Other Important Elements- 1. A procedure should have a title. A chart should have a title.
2. The procedure steps should be numbered in the right order.
3. Charts should allow you to record multiple trials (multiple repeats
of the procedure)
23. Example Procedure
What Makes a Paper Helicopter Drop Faster? Title
In this inquiry, we will try to find out how to make a helicopter drop faster.
We think we can increase the dropping speed by decreasing the blade length. Purpose
Paper helicopters with shorter blades should drop faster because there is
less drag. (air resistance)
Materials
1. 3 paper helicopter pattern papers
2. scissors Materials
3. 3 paper clips
4. Watch or clock
Directions
1. Cut out each helicopter by cutting along the solid lines using the scissors
2. Fold the flaps back along the dotted lines for each helicopter.
3. Add a paper clip to the bottom of each helicopter.
4. Label the helicopters: 1, 2 and 3. Directions
5. Cut 1 cm off of both blades for helicopter 2.
6. Cut 2 cm off of both blades for helicopter 3.
7. Drop each helicopter 3 times. Time how long it takes a helicopter to drop.
8. Record the times in the chart provided.
Time Versus Helicopter Blade Length
Time Trial Helicopter 1’s Helicopter 2’s Helicopter 3’s
time time time
1 Chart
2
3
24. Formal (Guided) Inquiry 1 – Waves and Wave Behavior – Day 1
(process section)
Overview – Today, you will begin your first formal inquiry for your current topic: waves
- Actually, you will only complete the first 4 stages of the inquiry process but you
will go through them like real scientists too (Just you will not continue after stage
4)
- And you will be guided through the stages to ensure you understand better
- Also note, that you will rewrite this inquiry a second time and your second draft
will be graded so try your best
Inquiry 1 Topic – Waves and Wave Behavior
Stage 1 – Exploring a Question
Copy your topic’s inquiry question (What are Waves) on the first line in the box below
After, write down some general information that you have learned so far about your topic
(You can write almost anything you want on your topic. Look at your notes or textbook and try to write a
small background paragraph in the rest of the box )
Inquiry Topic: __________________________________________________________ ?
General Information: ______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Stage 2 – Making a (Scientific!) Prediction
Now you should write a prediction about a more specific inquiry focus for your inquiry’s question
For this guided inquiry, the particular topic has been chosen for you below. Just check the box
below it to show your understanding
Last, make a proper scientific prediction relating to your particular topic
**
Remember to include: an independent and dependent variable
Also, remember to write a two-part sentence where you first show the relationship between your
variables and then you make your guess
Last, (if you can) try to write an explanation for making your guess using “science”. This is you
hypothesi
25. Specific Inquiry Focus: Now, I wonder more specifically how waves actually behave. For this
inquiry I will explore wave behavior using a slinky. A slinky is a coil spring toy that can used to
create transverse and compressional waves. It should be a useful tool.
I understand my inquiry’s specific focus: ______ (just check)
Here is now what I want to check out more. I think there is a connection between
____________________ (write variable 1) and __________________ (write variable 2)
My Scientific Prediction: ____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Stage 3 – Creating the Procedure
Finally, for Day 1 of your first formal inquiry, you need to write down HOW you will test your
prediction.
In other words, you cannot just start using your materials, you have to first formally explain step
by step what you plan on doing
Also, remember one of your steps will require you make a chart to record your observations later.
Make the chart now BUT DO NOT FILL IT IN NOW. (You will do that later in stage 4)
To make your procedure, use the following headings below but write your procedure on separate
A4 paper and attach.
My Inquiry’s Materials-
My Inquiry’s Procedural Steps-
My Observation Chart –
This is all you need to do for now (Day 1).
Remember, you will continue the inquiry in the next class
Also remember, you will receive a mark for this inquiry!
26. The Inquiry Process – Stage 4 Ah! Yeah!
Conducting Experiments Experimenting!
Overview- You now have a prediction and hypothesis. As well, you made a procedure to test your
predication and hypothesis. Now, you are ready to experiment. You will follow your procedure and
then you will make observations. In the end, you find out if your prediction is true or not.
This is Stage 4: Conducting Experiments.
How do conduct a procedure? Follow the three basic steps below.
1. Review your procedure (From stage 3). Did you include the following:
A. A scientific prediction (there should be normally 2 variables to test ONLY. )
B. A list of suitable materials
C. A sequence of suitable steps to follow in order to test your prediction.
D. A chart to record your observations.
* Special Note on Recording Chart – Multiple Trials
--> It is important that your chart contain spaces to write multiple recordings which you will get by
repeating your experiment again and again. These multiple repeats are called Trials. Observe the chart
below and notice the column called Trial Number.
Medium VS Slinky Wave Speed
Trial Slinky Time in Air Slinky Time in Other Notes
Number Water
1 Sample
2 Chart
3
4
5
** If your chart does not contain multiple trials, you should create it again!
2. Just get your materials and follow your procedure steps!
--> Remember your need to do your procedure MULTIPLE TIMES to compare observations
3. Make observations.
--> Write your observations using the spaces you provided yourself in your chart
--> You can also write down extra notes on some other paper if you wish!
4. Find out if your prediction was correct.
FINAL NOTE-
You can always change your procedure! Sometimes, your procedure might have a problem.
Sometimes, you might forget a step to do. Also, you might discover a better way. So… change it!! It is
okay to go back to stage 3 , 2 or even 1 and redo. You can re-write your procedure and/or prediction to
make them better. You could even find out more information by exploring more in stage 1! And you can
do all of this as many times as you want! In fact, all scientists do this. This is the nature of science.
Practice makes perfect!
27. Formal (Guided) Inquiry 2 – Light Waves and Colour
Overview – Today, you will begin your second formal inquiry related to your current
topic: waves.
- This time, you will complete all 7 stages of the inquiry process as real scientists do
- Again, this handout (and later ones) will help guide you through the inquiry process so
follow their instructions carefully
- Also note that you will receive a scored for this inquiry as well so try your best!
Inquiry Topic – Light Waves and Colour
Stage 1 – Exploring a Question
--> Copy your topic’s inquiry question (How are colours of light waves different?) on the first line in the
box below
--> After, write down some general information that you have learned so far about your topic (You can
write almost anything you want about your topic’s inquiry question but it should try to help you
understand/find a possible answer. Look at your notes or textbook to start. You may also use other
books or sites if you prefer. Try to write a small background paragraph in the rest of the box below)
Inquiry Topic: ________________________________________________________?
General Information: ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Stage 2 – Making a Scientific Prediction
--> Now you should write a scientific prediction about something relating to your inquiry topic
--> For this guided inquiry, you must try to show how light colours are different from each other
--> A more specific inquiry focus has been started for you. You may use this for your inquiry. Simply,
check the blank to show you understand it and then try to make a prediction and hypothesis using
information from the focus and your own ideas.
OR
If you want make a different inquiry focus and prediction that is okay but remember it must related to
something that examines how light colours might differ from each other
…
--> Remember to include an independent variable and a dependent variable
--> Also, remember to write a 2 part sentence where you state there is some relationship between your
2 variables in the first part and then you use that to make some guess in the second part
28. --> Last, write an explanation about your guess using “science” (ie. explain how your guess “makes
sense!”)
Specific Inquiry Focus- For this inquiry, I wonder what makes the colours of light different from each
other? Why is there red light, blue light, green light and many more? I think it
has something do with their wavelength.
I understand my inquiry’s specific focus _________ (just check)
Here is now what I want to investigate more in my inquiry. I think there is a connection between
_______________ (write the variable colour) and ________________ (write the variable wavelength)
My Scientific Prediction: (Help- You could guess how to make a rainbow!) __________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
** remember to make a proper 2 part sentence for your prediction
My Hypothesis : ____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
OR
Here is now what I want to investigate more in my inquiry. I think there is a connection between
_______________ (write your own variable) and ________________ (write your other variable)
My Scientific Prediction: _____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
** remember to make a proper 2 part sentence for your prediction
My Hypothesis : ____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Stage 3 – Creating the Procedure
--> Finally, for Day 1 of this inquiry, you need to now write down –how- you will test our your prediction
and hypothesis
To make your procedure, use the following headings below but write your procedure in full on a separate
sheet of lined paper (or you may type) and attach.
- My Inquiry’s Materials
- My Inquiry’s Procedural Steps
- My Observation Chart
** Make you sure you can secure your materials for next class. You could ask the teacher for
help with this. There may be some things to use already in the classroom. If not, find or buy!
29. The Inquiry Process – Stage 5
Analyzing the Results
Overview- What did you do so far in the inquiry? What was your question? What did you predict?
What happened in your experiment? Were you right? What does it mean? Wow! All these questions to
answer! This is Stage 5. Here, you reflect (review) what you have done. AND you try to understand
and explain what you discovered. (ie. you analyze your results!
How to Analyze the Results- This step is a WRITING step. The experiment is done. Here you sit
down by yourself and think about your inquiry. Or perhaps you might discuss what you did with someone
else. But most importantly, you need to write
1. A short review of your inquiry
2. Your understanding of the results
Part 1 – Reviewing your Inquiry- in this part you should do three things:
1. Re-write your question
2. Write out some information that was useful in exploring your question.
3. Write out your prediction and hypothesis
Example:
Stage 5 – Part 1 – Reviewing
I wanted to learn how to make a plant grow better. 1. Question Re-write
Plants are living things too. So like other living things,
they need certain things to survive. For example,
they need the sun for energy, water for certain reactions 2. Useful Information
and even nutrients in the soil to make sugars.
I decided to explore the last two requirements: water
and nutrients. Most people give a plant just water.
30. But what about giving a plant something with water and
nutrients? How about tea! I think that watering a plant with tea
will make it grow faster than just using water because tea has 3. Prediction
both water and nutrients in it. Plants can receive two important
things at the same time.
Part 2 – Understanding- in this part you should do two things:
4. Compare your results to your prediction
5. Discuss the comparison (make a conclusion OR explain why you cannot conclude,
discuss errors etc)
Example:
Stage 5 – Part 2 – Understanding the Results
Stage 5 – Part 2 – Understanding the Results
I watered three plants with water every day. I watered another
three plants with tea every day. I recorded the plants’ rate of 4. Compare
growth. I discovered something after 2 weeks. The plants given
water all actually grew more than the plants given tea.
My prediction was wrong. I do not understand why. Maybe, tea
contains some other harmful things that plants do not like.
Next time, I will try to use a mixture of water and real soil 5. Discuss
nutrients instead of tea. Then, maybe, my plants will grow faster
with this mixture than with just water.
31. Inquiry on Visible Waves and Colour- Stage 5
Analyzing The Results
Directions- 1. ALONE- Complete ALL of the “My First Writing” boxes below by yourself
2. PAIR- Share your writing with someone. Then, make your writing better if possible by
adding or changing ideas..
3. RE –WRITE – After sharing, re-write all your paragraphs together on one A4 page.
Stage 5 – Part 1 – Reviewing
1. Question Re-write (Rewrite your inquiry’s question. From STAGE 1!) 1-2 sentences
2. Useful Information (Use your notes in STAGE 1!) 5-10 sentences!
3. Prediction and Hypothesis (Look at your Stage 2 section. Which prediction did you
choose? Write it! Write your hypothesis too!) 2-3 sentences
32. Stage 5 – Part 2 – Understanding the Results
4. Compare (Look at your results from Stage 4. Compare them with your prediction)
4-8 sentences
33. 5. Discuss (Evaluate your content in the above box. Are your results and prediction the
same? If yes, make a conclusion. If no, explain why and discuss possible problems. Add
other relevant ideas too) 4-8 sentences
** REMEMBER- After writing you must do two more things:1. Have someone check your writing.
2. Write it again on A4 paper
34. The Inquiry Process – _____________________
_______________________________________
Overview- In Stage 5, you analyzed your results. Now, it is time to connect your results to other
things.
Applying means _____________________ what your learned to the _________________. (For
example: society, the environment, your school, businesses…etc) In other words, you look at your
results and analysis information again. Then, you connect that information to something
________________ of your inquiry.
You could even make a _______________________ about something but do not always have to
or are you always able to.
_________________________? This is another WRITING step. And you need to relate your
inquiry to something else. Follow the steps below.
1. Sit down by yourself and think carefully about your results and also your analysis. (Stage 4
and 5) OR you could talk with someone else about them.
When thinking or talking, consider the following questions:
1) If your prediction was __________________ ….
Connect to a better inquiry… ie. How could you make your inquiry even better?
Connect to a similar inquiry … ie. What would be another good inquiry to further test your
results more?
(ex. Pretend your inquiry was about paper airplanes. You could do future inquiry on model
airplanes)
Connect to a similar process, action or event in the real world…. ie. Can you write about
something that happens in the real world that is similar to your inquiry?
(ex. You found out that narrow paper airplanes fly better. You might suggest real airplanes
should be narrow too because …)
Connect to targets of influence… ie. How does your inquiry affect people, nature, events,
school, work etc?
(ex. You found out that narrow paper airplanes fly better. You might suggest children should
make very narrow airplanes when competing in a paper airplane contest)
Connect to a real issue or problem… ie. Can you tell or suggest how something you learned in
your inquiry could important for understanding or even solving some issue that is very
important in people’s lives.
35. (ex. You found out that narrow paper airplanes fly better. You realize too that narrower planes
use less material. You might suggest that companies make their planes narrower to conserve
metal and other resources. We don’t have a lot of metal left as well as other resources in the
world. This is a big issue…)
2) If your prediction was _______________ or there was some ______________ your
inquiry’s procedure
Connect to a better inquiry…ie. What kind of future inquiry could you do to explain what might
have happened?
(Ex. All your plants died quickly when you gave them tea but not water. You might do an
inquiry to find what ingredients are in tea. There may be something harmful that you didn’t
know)
Connect to a similar inquiry ….What kind of similar future inquiry could you do to double check
your prediction?
(Ex. You found out your plants did not grow better with your tea than with water. You might try
doing a future inquiry with a different kind of tea or a different kind of plant)
Connect to better procedure…ie. How could you change your procedure to better test your
prediction?
(ex. Your plants died after three days. You think it was because your room has no window to
allow sunlight in. You could suggest doing the inquiry again in another room with a big window)
Connect to targets of influence… ie. How does your inquiry affect people, nature, events,
school, work etc?
(ex. Despite problems or surprises with your results, you can still suggest with good evidence
tea is not good for plants. You might suggest people should not drink tea near plants. They
might accidentally spill tea on them)
Connect to a real issue or problem… ie. Can you tell or suggest how something you learned in
your inquiry could important for understanding or even solving some issue that is very
important in people’s lives.
(ex. Even though your results were better, your inquiry still shows that working plants is harder
than people may think. People think plants are easy things to look after or take care of but you
have learned people should find out more before getting a plant as they might experience
problems like you did.)
2. __________________! Write a nice paragraph. Answer some of the questions above in your
paragraph. Add
other ideas too!
3. ___________________ and ________________! Review your paragraph or better have
someone else look over to find mistakes, give concerns and provide other valuable feedback.
Then rewrite your paragraph better after making any corrections, additions and/or other
productive changes.
36. Sample Application Paragraph
In our experiment, we predicted that narrower airplanes would move faster through
the air then wider airplanes because there is less drag (less air resistance). We were
right. We wonder if this is true for other kinds of flying objects. We would like to do
another inquiry with paper helicopters. We will test if narrower paper helicopters also
move faster through the air than wider paper helicopters. The same might be true for
size as well. In another future inquiry, we would like to find out if longer paper airplanes
move faster than shorter paper airplanes. Our inquiry findings suggest that real airplane
manufacturers should make airplanes that are very narrow because like paper airplanes
real airplanes also encounter drag. So, if they are narrow, there should be less drag and
they will fly better. We would also like to do our inquiry one more time. It was very windy
on the day that we followed our procedure. The wind may have affected our results. We
would like to do the inquiry again on a day that is not very windy.
37. Stage 6 – Applying the Inquiry Directions-
1. Write an application paragraph about your Inquiry 2 – Light Waves and Colour
Answer questions given in your help handout on The Inquiry Process Stage 6
You may use other ideas too.
2. After, you will need to ask a classmate or teacher to read your paragraph and give you feedback.
Then you must rewrite the paragraph after
____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
39. The Inquiry Process – Stage 7
Publishing the Inquiry
Overview- You have made to the final stage of the inquiry process. You have carried out an
experiment and also analyzed and applied your results. After all your hard work, one step remains. You
are now ready to share your inquiry with other people. This is called publishing!
Publishing the Inquiry means sharing your inquiry with other people.
How to Publish the Inquiry? Publishing an inquiry can be done in various ways. It depends
mostly on who are audience is. (ex your teacher, a classmate, your whole school. real scientists etc.).
Then once your audience is known there are three main parts to consider:
1. What resources will be used or created? (ex. Which completed handouts will you show? What
paragraphs will you create? What charts or lists will you include? What materials will you display?
What models will you make? Etc.)
2. How will your resources will organized? (ex. Will you put everything in a file folder make a
book even? Will you display your work on a bulletin or other display board? Will you post your
work on a web page? Etc.)
3. What will you do with your created resources? (Ex. Will you simply hand in your inquiry to
your teacher to be marked? Will you give a speech on your inquiry to your entire class? Will you
participate or even competing in a science fair? Will you make a video of yourself? Etc.)
Final Note: Due to the huge variety of publication types, it is not possible to explain in detail how to
publish. In fact, is probably better for you not to follow one particular method. In other words, learn
about various forms of publication and be creative in each of your own publications. Make each
publication attractive and engaging in you own way!
