Pascual Lewis
Professor Plummer
ENGL 110
16 November 2021
Research Question Generator
1. “Climate Change’s Giant Impact on the Economy: 4 Key Issues”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/upshot/how-to-think-about-the-costs-of-climate-change.html
2. Summary: The article began with mentioning that climate change is not only an environmental problem, but also an economic problem. Then, a discussion about politics shows how much attention and money the US is putting towards the problem. Near the end of the article, it switches to talking about what will happen to the economy if we do nothing about climate change.
3. Topics: History of climate change, Democrats vs. Republicans, government spending, GDP
4. Another article by the New York Times titled, “U.S. Climate Report Warns of Damaged Environment and Shrinking Economy”, was referenced to give more information about GDP and climate change. Also, studies covering the Obama administration and Trump administration were also talked about to show the different decisions the government has made about climate change.
5. a. How do election years affect government spending on climate change?
b. Is climate change effecting the unemployment rate?
c. How have the world wars influenced climate change?
d. Is farming good or bad for climate change?
e. How have other countries dealt with climate change?
1. “Climate Change Sends Great Lakes Water Levels Seesawing”
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-change-sends-great-lakes-water-levels-seesawing/
2. Summary: This magazine talked about the North American Great Lakes and how the constant change in climate has forced the water level to go to dangerous lows and highs. Multiple examples of the water level setting record lows and highs in the past ten years are used to explain why the lakes’ water budget has had to change. The article concludes by listing the tools that are being used to forecast the future changes in water level at the Great Lakes.
3. Topics: The Great Lakes, weather forecasting, hydrology, polar vortex
4. An article from the Wall Street Journal was used to talk about Governor Cuomo declaring a state of emergency due to flooding. Studies from NOAA were also discussed that showed the water level history of the Great Lakes.
5. a. How can we predict the water level of a lake?
b. How can a lakes’ water level be controlled with engineering?
c. What would the environment of the Great Lakes be in a warm climate?
d. Has the government put in enough resources to find a solution for the water level at the Great Lakes?
e. Is scientific knowledge being increased by studying the Great Lakes?
1. “Long considered a “clean” energy source, hydropower can actually be bad for climate”
2. Summary: This article brings attention to the fact that hydropower can have a negative effect on the climate. Multiple reasons are given as to why hydropower isn’t as great as it seems and that the use of it is growing across the globe. The end of the article states that the purpose of the article isn’t to persuade to get rid of hydropower, but find ways to make it safer for the climate.
3. Topics: Fossil Fuels, energy sources, carbon dioxide sources
4. The article was based off an Environmental Defense Fund study that gave facts and statistics about current and future hydropower projects.
5. a. What is the safest source of energy in America?
b. How is hydroelectricity created?
c. What are the potential problems of using hydroelectricity?
d. Should we still use hydropower?
e. What country has the cleanest sources of energy?
1. “Being near a body of water makes us calmer and healthier, science shows”
https://globalnews.ca/news/4320204/lake-water-mental-health-blue-space/
2. Summary: This article discusses a study about increased mental and physical health from being near a body of water. A few research projects are covered in this article that explain how being near water decrease depression, obesity, and other diseases. The article ends with the question, why don’t we just build more bodies of water? Then, it answers the question and says how difficult it would be and all the problems it might create.
3. Waterfront property, therapy, sensory abilities, rural vs suburban, coast vs inland
4. The article referenced a study from the University of Exeter about the health benefits of being in nature.
5. a. Why we need to take a vacation?
b. How does the weather change our mood?
c. How to deal with mental health issues?
d. Are people in foreign countries happier than people in America?
e. Are people on the coast happier than people living inland?
1. “Episode 6: Tom Henry The Psychology of Water”
https://glpf.org/podcast/episode/tom-henry-the-psychology-of-water/
2. Summary: The podcast is an interview with Tom Henry, a reporter from Toledo, Ohio that is into environmental journalism. He shares his thoughts and experiences with the Great Lakes. Henry believes we have an emotional connection to water and our leaders should realize that we need the Great Lakes.
3. Government spending, idealism, journalism, environmental protection
4. Henry shared some of his previous newspaper articles.
5. a. How has journalism changed an election?
b. How has journalism grown and shrunk over the past 50 years?
c. How has the Great Lakes effected the economy?
d. What is the culture surrounding the Great Lakes?
e. How does our government support our lakes?