Neal


 * Entry 1: 4-7-08** Reflection on Previous I Search Experiences (due Mon. April 7)

1. What are some of the previous research projects you have done? 2. Based on these projects, what does research mean to you? 3. Describe one of your research successes or failures. Why was the experience positive or negative?
 * The major research projects I have done are the bio board in 6th grade, the beyond hammurabi project, The labyrinth webquest and the presidential caucuses.
 * To me, research is finding out information on a particular topic. When I do research, I try to find the broad information on the subject to give me a base, and from there, I narrow it down to more specific info. I also try to get as many relevant sources as possible.
 * I think that the presidential caucus project was a big success for me. I didn't think that the experience would be a positive one at the beginning of the project, but I think it taught me a lot about politics, which I don't really care for. I also respect all the presidential candidates now because of the "grueling" campaign process that they have to go through and the inevitable criticism that each candidate gets. It was also good for me to research a candidate that I don't share beliefs with so I could get a perspective of their views and where they are coming from.


 * Entry 2: 4-7-08** Reflection on Webbing Process (due Tuesday, April 8)

1. I think the webbing process helped me find a topic because it made me think about all the things that we have learned this year and how they can apply to this project. It got the "creative juices" flowing i guess.... I came up with a lot of different topics to choose from.


 * Entry 3: 4-7-08** Why I Chose This Topic and What I Know About My Topic (due Tuesday, April 8)

1. Topic: Medieval weapon technology and warfare 2. Why you chose it: I saw a special on it on the History Channel and it was very interesting ( and I also watched Lord of the Rings last night) :) 3. What you already know about your topic: Some weapons used- battle axes, bows, catapults, greek fire, flails, etc


 * Entry 4: 4-8-08** Pre-Notetaking Activity - in class (due Wednesday, April 9)

1. Brainstorm a list of questions related to your topic.
 * FAT Question: How did the use of Medieval weaponry technology affect the development of war technology today?
 * Why is technology from the Ancient times still used today?
 * As time went along, what discoveries were made in order to make these weapons more effective?
 * Why did some of these technologies rely more on their reputation than their actual effectivness?
 * Did the ancients have a different view of life and death than we do today? Does this affect the types of technologies they used? How?
 * Who made these machines?
 * Did science play a role in the creation of these machines?


 * Entry 5: 4-8-08** Reflections on Pre-Notetaking - for homework (due Wednesday, April 9)

1. Describe how the pre-notetaking sheet helped you find both focus for your topic and research questions to investigate. Did you find it easy or difficult to create a fat question from your ideas?
 * It helped me by really thinking about questions that I thought were interesting and ones that will get the most information about the topic. I thought that coming up with a fat question was really easy because I find my topic very interesting, and I had already had questions in my mind that I wanted answers to.


 * Entry 6: 4-9-08** Search Log (due Thursday, April 10)

1. What have I learned today? 2. What problems have I had? 3. How will I overcome the problem(s)? 4. What will I do next?
 * I've learned what kinds of weapons the ancients used and what they were used for.
 * I've had trouble relating ancient war technology to technology in the present.
 * I will try to use my critical thinking skills to come up with similarities and differences between the medieval weapons and the ones today.
 * Next I will do research on my semi fat and skinny questions. Using the information from these, I think I can easily find answers to my fat question.

Mrs D **
 * Good job!


 * Entry 7: 4-10-08** Search Log (due Friday, April 11)

1. What have I learned today? 2. What problems have I had? 3. How will I overcome the problem(s)? 4. What will I do next?
 * Well I learned that some weapons were used more as a weapon of terror than a mass-killing machine (the brazen bull and the flying guillotine)
 * No problems today really- I'm just working on getting answers to the fat question.
 * I'll try to search more databases and get more sources
 * I am almost done with my semi fat questions- I will use those as part of my answers to the really fat question.


 * Entry 8: 4-13-08** Search Log (due Monday, April 14)

1. What have I learned today? 2. What problems have I had? 3. How will I overcome the problem(s)? 4. What will I do next?
 * I finally found something related to my fat question! I found out how the chinese invented land mines and what technologies made it more effective.
 * None, really. I'm just surprised that the whole project is due next monday.
 * I will try to work as diligently as possible over the next couple days.
 * start work on the graphic organizer- and finish up the research.