Students will identify that inquiry is an open$-$ended process that explores evidence and$/$or approaches to generate ideas and conclusions. Students will also recognize that knowledge is developed and constructed rather than simply received.

A commonly used model for the inquiry process is the following five Step Process:

Ask questions:

What do I want to know about this topic?

What do I need to know?

Explore available resources:

What kinds of resources might help?

Where do I find these resources?

How do I know if the information is valid and reliable?

Consult with Ms$.$ Angel Truesdale, Social Sciences and Business Librarian in Atkins Library for additional sources $($Atkins $138$E$,$ Email: adtruesd@uncc.edu

Gather evidence and information:

Use a variety of information sources $($e$.$g$.$ Online business databases, company policies and procedures, industry research, market studies$)$

Interpret and Reflect on the evidence and information:

What information supports the answers to my questions?

Develop your own ideas and new conclusions, then report your findings:

Does this information raise new questions?

What are my main points and how do the main points connect?

What is the most essential information to share with a particular audience?

Complete the Critical Thinking Worksheet below related to one of the areas listed below:

General Business Topics:

Entrepreneurship, ethics, strategic planning, supply issues, unemployment, minimum wage laws, inflation, current events in business, etc.

A Business Discipline$/$major:

Accounting, business analytics, economics, finance, international business, management, management information systems, marketing, or operations and supply chain management

A Specific Industry

Agriculture, arts and entertainment, beverage, banking, construction, food service $($restaurant$),$ grocery, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, retail, telecommunications, transportation, utilities

Professional Development Topics

Business etiquette, career planning, resume preparation, interviewing techniques, networking, oral and$/$or written communication, stress management, leadership, teamwork, time management.

STEP $1$:

My topic of interest is:

I decided on this topic because $($state how does this topic is relevant to you$)$:

Before starting this Inquiry, I already knew the following about this topic $($include information about the people most likely involved, impacted, and$/$or affected by this question$)$:

The specific question related to my topic that I WANT to answer is:

$($You must be able to answer your main question with either a $$yes$$ or a $$no$)$

To answer my main question, I first NEED to explore the following two $($or more$)$ related questions $($create a list$)$:

The five $(5)$ keywords most relevant to my topic search when finding information are:

$1$:

$2$:

$3$:

$4$:

$5$:

STEPS $2$ and $3$:

I used the following library databases for my Inquiry:

While exploring the available resources, I experience the following challenges:

To overcome these challenges, I made the following adjustments to my inquiry:

I know that the information gathered is valid and reliable because:

My $($minimum of$)$ five $(5)$ reputable sources found utilizing our Campus Library resources are $($see $$Referencing Sources using APA format$$ for information on how to list your sources and do not forget to include the direct hyperlink to the source$)$:

STEP $4$:

Analysis$/$Synthesis:

List three $(3)$ arguments for a YES answer and three $(3)$ arguments for a NO answer to your main question identified on page $1.$

For each pro or con that you list, expand on why it is a pro or con in $24$ sentences. Remember to list the source you retrieved your information from.

YES argument #$1$:

Explanation:

Source:

YES argument #$2$:

Explanation:

Source:

YES argument #$3$:

Explanation:

Source:

NO argument #$1$:

Explanation:

Source:

NO argument #$2$:

Explanation:

Source:

NO argument #$3$:

Explanation:

Source:

STEP $5$:

I have learned the following about my topic $($reflection$)$:

After this Inquiry, my personal conclusion is that my main question should be answered with a $($YES or NO$)$ because $($state the claims, reasoning, and supportive evidence you found most persuasive$)$: