WRITE: Write a blog post (at least 400 words) in which you introduce your research question. You may find your topic anywhere– from Unit One to the blog posts we wrote last week, to your peersā blog posts! (Itās really okay if two people write about the same topic– I promise you.)
What is important here– and I canāt stress this enough– is that you research something you want to know more about, not something you think you already know the answer to. You may be curious to know why there are so few African American ballerinas in major companies, or you may want to know how much āhousing projectsā have changed in New York since James Baldwin wrote āA Talk to Teachersā in 1963, or you may want to know what we really learn from playing computer games. Just be curious. REMEMBER YOU MUST GET YOUR TOPIC APPROVED BY ME!
Write it in question form (it canāt be a yes-or-no question, though) You must cover all of the questions in bold:
- Why are you interested in this question? Ā (Feel free to talk about your own personal experience with the topic, or to tell an anecdote about your experience with this subject matter)Ā
- What do you expect to find in your research? (Why do you expect to find this?) Remember that itās okay to be wrongā you might find a completely different answer than the one you intended to find. You wonāt get marked down for that!Ā
Spend some time on this– because this will serve as the first draft of the introduction for your annotated bibliography!
Math has always been one of my hardest subjects in high school. But why is math so challenging compared to other subjects like English or history? This question got me thinking because Iāve struggled with math myself, and Iāve noticed a lot of my friends feel the same way.
When I was in 9th grade, math started to get really tough for me. I would understand one lesson, but then, when the next topic came up, it felt like everything was connected, and I had to remember what I learned before. If I didnāt understand something earlier, Iād have a hard time with the new stuff too. This made math feel like a puzzle with missing pieces. It made me wonder, is this why so many students struggle with math?
I think one reason why math is so hard for me is that math builds on itself. For example, if you donāt fully get how to solve equations in algebra, youāll probably struggle when you get to more advanced topics like geometry or trigonometry. Itās not like in history, where each new chapter is about something different. In math, if you fall behind, itās hard to catch up because everything connects and builds on each other.
Another reason I think students struggle with math is that they don’t see themselves applying this in real life. In subjects like history or biology, you can often relate what you’re learning to real life. You might learn about events that actually happened or how the human body works. But in math, youāre dealing with numbers and formulas that sometimes feel disconnected from the real world. This can make it harder for some students to stay interested or understand why they need to learn it.
I also wonder if the way math is taught makes a difference. Some students might learn better through hands-on activities or by solving real-world problems. But my highschool math classes, the focus is on memorizing formulas and doing practice problems. This works for some students, but not everyone. If the teaching style doesnāt match how a student learns best, that could be another reason why math feels so difficult.
Iām really interested to see if my ideas hold up when I look more into this topic. Maybe there are other reasons students struggle with math that I havenāt thought about. No matter what I find, I think understanding why math is so hard for many students is important so teachers can find better ways to help us succeed because I wish I could understand math a lot better.
Majority of my childhood I always felt that once I was older, I would become a vet. Growing up with my Hispanic parents they both thought dogs were too much to handle especially since they both worked full-time, they felt like a pet (dog) would be “too much”. In the other hand I felt like a pet would be a major company to me since I was the younger sibling at the time and all my older siblings either had their lives figured out or too much into their teen years to listen to me.
As I grew older, I kept insisting and would make planners to negotiate that “yes” to a pet dog. The excuses changed over the course of where we would live. In one apartment where we use to live the excuse would always be “we have no space”. Once we moved out into a bigger place it would be “you’re too young”, which I did not understand because I thought I was perfectly capable of taking care of a dog especially the breed I wanted (shih tzu). Finally, In that last place we settled into the excuse was “the owner does not allow pets”, but I knew it was a lie since the neighbors upstairs had a golden retriever.
The aspirations of wanting to be a vet were all good until a close friend of mine would tell me about her mother’s experience of being a vet. I would rant to my friend on how much I would like to deal with animals in order to heal that part of me that could never get a pet. She would hit me with how her mother had to put dogs and cats down due to their health issues other times putting pets down because the owners could simply not afford the procedure. The stories would break my heart, getting the idea that I would not be strong enough to let go of any of the pets even if they were not mine.
These aspirations were also leaving when my cousins pet dog was accidently lost while my aunt had taken her to run quick errands forgetting she left the back car window open and the dog ran out the window without leaving a trace. I would see how my cousin would constantly mourn her disappearance, making cards for her, making posters and putting them up everywhere, posting through social media to spread awareness of her lost dog, and how she would wait for any clue that would lead her to her dog. Yet all her efforts there was not one person that gave her hope. This created the question of how pet owners grew to detach themselves for a pet’s lost?, would they get a new pet or would they avoid the hardship of going through that pain once more with getting a new pet.
^^I believe that with my research I will find out that after a loss, owners will most likely get a new pet since the case of my cousin and other friends while growing up got a new pet after some time.
How do cultural misunderstandings and systemic inequalities contribute to hate crimes against minority groups, especially in Asian American communities? I find this question compelling because it touches on the intersection of culture, identity, and social justice issues that resonate deeply in our increasingly diverse society. Iāve seen firsthand how misunderstandings can escalate into conflict, and how systemic inequities create environments where hate can thrive.
In my research, I expect to uncover specific examples of cultural misunderstandings that have led to violence against Asian American communities, as well as the broader systemic issues at play, like economic inequality and media representation. I anticipate finding that these factors are often interconnected, creating a cycle that perpetuates hate.
I may be compelled to change this research question to something like “What factors motivate individuals to harass those who are different from them, and how do social dynamics, cultural perceptions, and individual insecurities contribute to this behavior?” or maybe something more generalized like “How does hate become normalized and commonplace in a society with ever-growing diversity?”Ultimately, I want my research to focus on how we, as a diverse society, can reduce the manifestation of hate, which is crucial for advancing social cohesion and justice. By understanding the complexities of hate and its roots, I hope to contribute to meaningful solutions that promote empathy and respect across all communities.
In today’s day, technology has become so important in our daily life. From the moment we wake up to the time we go to sleep, we interact with a multitude of devices: smartphones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and even wearable technology like fitness trackers. As much as these advances have brought us convenience and enhanced communication, they’ve also raised a pressing question: How does technology affect our brain?
This is a question I find particularly fascinating, especially considering the significant role technology plays in shaping our behavior, productivity, and mental well-being. However, it’s not a question I feel I already know the answer to, which makes it even more intriguing. I’m aware of the basic arguments about technology’s effects both positive and negative but I want to dig deeper into how our brains are truly adapting to these modern tools.
There are so many aspects of this topic to explore, and the more I think about it, the more curious I become. For example, how does prolonged exposure to screens influence our cognitive processes, such as memory and attention span? There’s a growing concern that our reliance on devices might be shrinking our ability to focus or concentrate for long periods. Some researchers suggest that the constant notifications and multitasking encouraged by technology are rewiring our brains in ways that make us more easily distracted. But is that really the case? Or are we simply adapting to a new form of digital literacy, one where multitasking and fast paced information processing become essential skills?
The educational system could play a significant role in this discussion as well. How is technology being integrated into schools, and what impact does it have on students’ learning capabilities and brain development? I’m curious to learn more about how screen time, digital learning platforms, and access to information at our fingertips are reshaping the way younger generations think, process information, and solve problems.
Ultimately, the reason this question excites me is because the effects of technology on the brain are still relatively new, and there is so much yet to be discovered. What fascinates me most is the complexity of the issue: technology can both hinder and help, and the consequences of our constant digital interactions are still unfolding. I hope to explore the latest research on neuroplasticity, screen time, attention spans, and cognitive development as I dive deeper into how technology is influencing the very structure and function of our brains.
I canāt really put it into one concise question, so Iāll list the three Iām considering: 1. How do different mental disorders show on the brain?; 2. Are mental disorders hereditary, and if so, to what extent and how?; 3. How exactly did mental disorders emerge?
I am interested in the first two because my family has a history of mental disorders, namely schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. Thankfully I donāt suffer from any of those myself, but my experiences with my family and a few friends have led me to be more curious about the inner workings of the brain and the disorders themselves. As for my third possible question, it arose from a combination of my interest in neurological disorders and history. We know how most illnesses emerged from domesticated animals, but that explanation does not explain the origin of mental disorders since I donāt think depression can be caught from a cow. My plan is to do preliminary research on all three and then make a final choice afterwards. I donāt think it would be a waste of time since all three questions are related and any articles I pull can be put to use regardless of my selection.
I do think there are answers to my first two questions. For the effect mental disorders have on the brain, maybe there will be disproportionately large or small parts of the brain, depending on the mental disorder. At the very least, I expect there to be some scientific studies that attempt to explain the changes since MRIs and CT Scans are standard imaging modalities in research. My expectations for the answer of whether mental disorders are hereditary or not and how that works is that genetics will most likely pay a part, but environment is also a crucial factor. The articles will most likely be a lot of āmaybesā since we canāt really determine for sure with our current technology and time. Answers will also vary from disorder to disorder, some will have potential to be hereditary while others will not. As for the origin of mental disorders, my best guess is that they have either always been around in humans as a sort of innate flaw or they emerged from the time when humans first began settling down. I expect myself to be proven wrong since my assumption is currently uneducated. Research articles will most likely be on evolutionary biology, and maybe include some historical sources. Regardless, I hope my assumptions are wrong because that would be much more interesting.
In the past few years, Iāve started to think more about where my clothes come from and the impact they have on the environment. But like many people, I still find myself shopping at fast fashion stores like Zara, H&M, and Shein. These brands offer trendy clothes at really low prices, which makes it hard to resist, especially when youāre on a budget. This made me wonder, how does the popularity of fast fashion impact global environmental sustainability?
Iām interested in this question because, while I understand the negative effects of fast fashion, itās difficult to avoid. Buying from more sustainable or ethical brands is much more expensive. For many people, including myself, itās hard to spend $100 on one sustainable item when you could get several pieces from a fast fashion brand for the same price. When money is tight, fast fashion often feels like the only option. I want to know how much this trend really affects the environment and whether there are better, more affordable alternatives.
I expect to find that fast fashion causes significant environmental harm. From what Iāve heard, the production process uses a lot of water and chemicals, which pollute the environment. Clothes made by fast fashion brands are often of lower quality, which means people wear them only a few times before they throw them away. This leads to a lot of textile waste, much of which ends up in landfills. Fast fashion also encourages people to buy more than they need because the clothes are so cheap and constantly updated with new trends.
However, I also expect to find that many people donāt feel they have a choice. Sustainable and ethical brands are usually much more expensive, making it hard for the average person to shop in an environmentally friendly way. This is why fast fashion remains so popular, even though more people are becoming aware of its negative effects.
Iām excited to research this topic because I hope to find some practical solutions. While itās clear that fast fashion has a big impact on the environment, Iām curious to see if there are affordable and sustainable alternatives. Maybe secondhand shopping or clothing swaps could be a good way to shop responsibly without spending too much. Ultimately, I want to understand how we can balance our need for affordable clothing with the need to protect our planet.
Social media has had a huge impact on people worldwide for a very long time. Both negative and positive, but mostly negative, I want to understand why people are so attached to social media and why it has such a big impact on people. So today I will be discussing āWhy does social media have the effect it does on humans?ā. This is a topic that I think of often but never seem to come up with an answer for. But this topic sparks my interest because I feel like this is something that I and the people around me are facing and I feel like I can get to the bottom of this. The reason why I say the people around me and myself are facing this issue is because sometimes I notice how addicted we can be to social, for example when I used to wake up in the morning I would go straight to social media and stay there for hours before I would actually start my day and I noticed that it had a big impact on my my life, and after talking to my friends to see if they faced the same thing as me, I found out that they did. We came to the realization that we were all addicted to social media. All the people around me agreed and we knew we had to change that. I know there are plenty of issues with social media but the main problem that I think it has is the influence on your brain and the way you get addicted so easily. Social media is very addictive and time-consuming, you can start scrolling one day then end up doing it for three hours and now you just wasted a lot of time out your day. In my research im expecting to find out what the main cause of people being glued to social media is. But based on what I know and what I’ve seen I noticed that a lot of people like copying stuff they see on social media because it looks trendy and everyone else is doing it so it makes everyone else try to do it and fit in. To me, it doesn’t make sense but everyone normalizes it and I see it as a problem. But that’s why I’m going to get to study this topic and get to the bottom of everything.
As technology continues to advance and becomes easier to access, a question emerges: Is technology negatively affecting the innovation and focus of our current and upcoming generations? I constantly find myself on my phone when I need a distraction, and I can confidently say this is also the case for many people. For example, people scroll through TikTok or Instagram for hours instead of using that time to get something productive done. When individuals don’t feel compelled to complete something, they often turn to sources of short-term dopamine, such as social media and video games. Itās common to see people outside walking, engaged with their phones instead of being aware of their surroundings. This is something I can relate to; at times when I don’t feel like talking in crowds or don’t want to look in a certain direction, I find myself pulling out my phone for any reason. I fear that with the advancement of AI, innovation among future generations will begin to decline. It is now much easier to cheat, as AI can complete the work for you. This leads people to rely on the internet instead of their creativity. It isnāt easy to get tasks done when thereās easy access to the internet whenever you feel bored or unmotivated. When instant gratification is available, it makes long-term tasks seem much less appealing, which can lead to people lacking a strong work ethic when it comes to the long term.
In my research, I hope to uncover why humans constantly desire short-term dopamine as a distraction from tasks. I want to discover how the constant advancement of AI is going to affect people’s creativity. The constant use of the internet can have upsides, like more efficient productivity, but it can also lead to people over-relying on the internet, hindering their critical thinking. By the end of my research, I want the internet to be used as an enhancement instead of a solution. It should be used with boundaries and for creative exercises to boost innovation. Keeping a society that values creativity and critical thinking is vital.
My interest in this question stems from my personal experiences and observations as a student at City Tech. Throughout my educational journey, Iāve noticed a significant variation in how different teaching methods and school environments have impacted my curiosity and engagement. For instance, in some classes, I felt incredibly motivated and eager to learn, while in others, my interest waned. This disparity made me wonder about the underlying factors that contribute to these differences. One particular incident that stands out is from my high school years. I had a math teacher who used innovative teaching methods, incorporating real-world applications and interactive activities. This approach not only made the subject more interesting but also sparked a genuine curiosity in me to explore mathematical concepts beyond the classroom. On the other hand, in a different class with a more traditional lecture-based approach, I found myself disengaged and merely memorizing information for exams without truly understanding or appreciating the content.
So much of our everyday lives depend on everything from personal relationships to worldwide communication. Social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others are dominantly influencing how we connect with others on a worldwide scale. It is interacting with the world to each other. The influence of social media has two directions. One is positive for mental health and relationships, but it also has an impact that can negatively affect someone both mentally and socially.
Social media can become severely addictive and extremely depressing because of how easily one can interact with others. These platforms are focused on teenagers and young adults, but itās for everyone over the age of 13. There are many reasons why social media is commonly linked to depression. The impact of self-worth, mental wellness, and emotional stability can be devastating when it comes to dealing with real-life problems from all aspects. One of them is social comparison when scrolling through images to the edited and filtered image where someoneās life seems perfect, leading them again to feel less than. Loneliness, loss of self-esteem, and depression can be a result of this. Also, the a never-ending feed of negative output, such as cyberbullying in all shapes and sizes. Experiences like body shaming and negative comments and sharing contribute to raised stress levels, which can cause anxiety.
Another way social media affects an individualās lifestyle is by altering their sleep patterns, as users stay up dangerously late on social media. Higher rates of depression and other mental health concerns are also associated with poor sleep. Social media addiction and FOMO can result in higher levels of emotional instability, as people are pushed to continuously track updates and notifications, which leads to an increase in anxiety and a decrease in social interactions with the real world. Research has found that more social media use is linked with an increase in depression, especially among teens and young adults, according to a study published ā of all places ā online. The paper argues that these effects are caused by negative social comparisons and decreased in-person interactions.
At one point, I, myself, was addicted to social media. During 2020, when the worldwide quarantine for COVID-19 started, Social media was all I had. I spent days and nights scrolling on TikTok and Instagram. Eventually, I grew depressed from the lack of in-person interactions, and my whole life was social media. I didnāt even feel real anymore. When the world opened up again, it was hard for me to feel myself again. I took a huge step back from social platforms, and I’ve felt brand new ever since.
I forgot to include my question in the intro.
So much of our everyday lives depend on everything from personal relationships to worldwide communication. Social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others are dominantly influencing how we connect with others on a worldwide scale. It is interacting with the world to each other. What effect does social media have on us? Does it do more harm than good? The influence of social media has two directions. One is positive for mental health and relationships, but it also has an impact that can negatively affect someone both mentally and socially.
Social media can become severely addictive and extremely depressing because of how easily one can interact with others. These platforms are focused on teenagers and young adults, but itās for everyone over the age of 13. There are many reasons why social media is commonly linked to depression. The impact of self-worth, mental wellness, and emotional stability can be devastating when it comes to dealing with real-life problems from all aspects. One of them is social comparison when scrolling through images to the edited and filtered image where someoneās life seems perfect, leading them again to feel less than. Loneliness, loss of self-esteem, and depression can be a result of this. Also, the a never-ending feed of negative output, such as cyberbullying in all shapes and sizes. Experiences like body shaming and negative comments and sharing contribute to raised stress levels, which can cause anxiety.
Another way social media affects an individualās lifestyle is by altering their sleep patterns, as users stay up dangerously late on social media. Higher rates of depression and other mental health concerns are also associated with poor sleep. Social media addiction and FOMO can result in higher levels of emotional instability, as people are pushed to continuously track updates and notifications, which leads to an increase in anxiety and a decrease in social interactions with the real world. Research has found that more social media use is linked with an increase in depression, especially among teens and young adults, according to a study published ā of all places ā online. The paper argues that these effects are caused by negative social comparisons and decreased in-person interactions.
At one point, I, myself, was addicted to social media. During 2020, when the worldwide quarantine for COVID-19 started, Social media was all I had. I spent days and nights scrolling on TikTok and Instagram. Eventually, I grew depressed from the lack of in-person interactions, and my whole life was social media. I didnāt even feel real anymore. When the world opened up again, it was hard for me to feel myself again. I took a huge step back from social platforms, and I’ve felt brand new ever since.
A question that has always been in my mind since I was a child and I am sure a lot of people also has same inquiry is ‘Is school worth it’, I have heard a lot of opinions from people, different beliefs and takes. Believing school is not worth it does not mean you are wrong while also thinking it isn’t, does not mean you are right. I also thought school was an obligation, In the society you are overlooked once you are known not to be in school.
School has been a great place where people get a lot of lessons, spend majority of their early and youthful age, learning and relearning. In most cases it is very easy to distinguish a learned person and a person who is not. Some people believe school is a waste of time as they do not focus on important things. Starting in school as a kid you are taught to learn how to communicate, relate with other, taught a lot of social skills which are important for the rest of one’s life, taught morals and basic and early life skills. Teachers can be regarded as professional instructor and one of the best set of people who would know how to manage and teach another person.
Schools may be regarded to as a waste a time because majority of schools focus of teaching broad topics and subjects, rather than focusing on topics that students find more interesting. Common schools focus teaching on some unnecessary things or things that some find uninteresting and cannot be used in the real world. The money needed and spent to go to school is a lot, and this is a turn off to some people and considering examination are unfair way of judging one’s ability and records of school being the main thing to determine who is better than the other.
Schools help booster teamwork in people by bringing people from various backgrounds together towards a common purpose and this help encourage teamwork which is really important in the society. School brings together different students from all works of life who share a common goal, and this ends up creating a sense of belonging among the children. School can also be a place where people get bad influenced which completely changes the course of one’s life, most people do not get one on one tutoring or ask questions from their teachers sometimes because they are too shy and because of the fear they may be mocked for their different inspiration
Schools is not the only place where learning take place, human learn from parents, families and community but in other to know more you have to learn, you have to study and commonly, one’s parent cannot know all as they have to put their kids in hands of professionals, teachers. Is school really worth it? there are many facts and opinions towards the prompt and there is not a direct answer to it because of the variables would always be different for each one of us.