Weaving

Let me just start off by sharing a fun web site - The Art of Being a Redhead - one of my favorite redhead paintings: La Belle Dame Sans Merci c. 1890 by Sir Frank Dicksee. I am not using this in my inquiry project, but came across it and found several interesting paintings I had never seen before. Also, I'm thinking my blog is getting a little bit wordy and I wanted to incorporate some visuals other than charts.


While in the process of weaving, I find helpful the Interpretation step in Pappas & Teppe's Pathway's to Knowledge Model and the steps (comparing, selecting, organizing, synthesizing, analyzing) outlined in Lamb's Weaving. I feel like I need a guide map to make sure that I cover all these bases and I want to choose tools that will help me see the information in a new light.

The Pathway's model suggests "assessing usefulness of information, "reflecting to develop personal meaning," and "interpreting information" using different methods (Callison & Preddy 57). I think I have continually evaluated resources for usefulness as I have used them. When reading items, I highlight the information (I-Search) that supports or expands on my topic. Then I have been entering this information into my notes spreadsheet (Research Cycle). So, now I think I can use most of the notes in my spreadsheet, but I have already found some that are not really relevant to my argument.

It is not difficult to find a personal meaning in this topic. I can relate every aspect of my research to myself and how I think about my identity. One thing I have learned is that taking Action on the redhead extinction issue, means employing some controversial and unethical genetic practices. The most natural thing that people could do is just to choose a mate who carries the redhead gene to increase their chances of having redheads. On the unethical side, there is genetic selection (choosing the embryo that has the red hair) or genetic altering (actually changing your DNA to get the physical traits you want, such as hair color or nose shape). I must say that I am a little bit torn because I feel very compelled to try to "Save the Redheads" but I also don't personally believe in genetic altering or selection. I'm not sure how I can convey this. Maybe the only way for me to personally promote redhead preservation is to encourage other redheads to find their best match to have redhead children.

To interpret this information I am using my spreadsheet, but extrapolating a little bit more to really lump the themes together. I want to make sure that all my information either supports the topic, provides background information, or theorizes on what the topic will mean for the future. I will take the different strings of research and synthesize it to reflect a big picture view of the redhead extinction issue (visual representation of organization to follow in another post).

It really helps me to address each step and look at the step and make a checklist for myself. Otherwise, I get lost in the shuffle of where I am. I know the process is recursive, and I have already dabbled in Wrapping, but I want to make sure I don't skip a step entirely. I also have to remind myself to do a little "I think" writing during this process to help myself learn what works for me (Curriculum Connections 53).

At this point, I'm apprehensive about reaching the end of this inquiry. I'm not sure when to really cut off finding new information. I feel like every time I read something, it just leads me to another new source, and I'm constantly going back to Webbing. I am starting to feel like I have enough information to present my findings through my product.