READ AND ANNOTATE: “Research Starts with a Thesis Statement” from Bad Ideas about Writing  on Perusall

READ AND ANNOTATE: “Schools are Killing Curiosity” from The Guardian  on Perusall

WRITE: Blog Post (at least 300 words)

What is something you were interested in when you were a kid? Are you still interested in that topic? How did asking questions help you learn more about that topic?   If so, how has your curiosity changed and grown over the years? And what role did the educational system play in your curiosity (good or bad)?   If you are not interested in this topic anymore, what do you think happened to that interest? Do you remember the specific time you LOST interest?  What did you become interested in instead (and why?)  

THINK: Start thinking about a topic you are interested in, something you might want to know more about.  This can be something heavy, like police brutality, or it can be something that seems on the surface more light-hearted, like ballet.  The only criteria is that you are actually curious about it.    This may seem like strange advice, but it can be helpful to go for a walk and think about topics you’d like to write about. Come home and jot down a few notes. By October 5 you will be expected to have some idea of a topic you’d like to research, even if it’s a bit vague.