Thursday, August 12, 2010
Group C Researcher
Researcher: Your job is to find some background information related to an important idea in the reading. Search through available references such as library books, reference books such as the encyclopedia, magazines. You might even interview someone who knows about your topic. Find some websites on the Internet so that you can do your investigation online. Share an interesting tidbit related to your reading.Please respond to each others' Research entry.
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As the researcher, this is a difficult job, as there are varied beliefs as to the existence of the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie). Through the research I completed both from the author of the book, as well as online sources, here is some bulleted information that I discovered that might be useful based on what we were able to read in the story.
ReplyDelete•This book is written as a cross between mythology and science fiction.
•Cryptids are creatures that do exist in some form within science, like the Loch Ness monster that people have witnessed. They have not been accepted as real.
•Crypto-zoologists are those who study the cryptids. A famous crypto-zoologist is Dr. Robert Rines, who was desperate to locate the whereabouts of Nessie before he died. The more a creature shows evidence of being supernatural, the less likely cryptozoologists would be interested in it.
•Most cryptozoological beings can be classified as humanoids (something like a human), draconic (it reminds you of a dragon) and animals (everything else). Inside these broad classifications you will find many individual creatures.
•Nessie, is considered to be a water monster, along with sea creatures and zeuglodons.
•According to the author, all cryptids live in the space between fact and fiction.
•Nessie does roughly resemble an average sea serpent, but lives in the biggest freshwater lake in Scotland instead of the ocean.
•Nessie is described by witnesses as an animal with sleek, rubbery blackish-gray skin, about 20 feet in length. Nessie is also described to have a serpentine body with furnished humps along its back and one or more sets of paddles/legs.
•Some reports indicate that Nessie has small horns on its small, rounded turtle-like head. The idea of horns may sound strange, but they would make sense if the Loch Ness monster is actually a zeuglodon, a weird primitive whale. This is due to the fact that because the zeuglodons were only a few steps removed from the mesonychids, ungulate predators, and ungulates often have horns.
•The first series of sightings began in the 1930s. In 1933, she was first spotted by Mr. and Mrs. John Mackay who were motoring along the loch-side road.
•Most believe that Nessie eats zoo-plankton, but some believe she eats fish, as the fish counts within the Loch vary.
•It is up to you to decide whether or not Nessie is real or fiction
Happy Blogging!
~Jen Miller
Hey guys, I'm not really sure how you respond to "research"...
ReplyDeleteBut, all of these bulleted points are very interesting. I thought the book was also very interesting, and I like how it incorporated many of the newpaper articles and reserch that has been done on the Loch Ness Monster. I wasn't too familiar with what exactly the Loch Ness was until reading this book. I've heard about it before, but had a very vague idea of what it was really about. All of these facts from you, Jen, and what we read in the story, really make me wonder if this creature is "real". I can't imagine something like this actually being real, but I find it hard to believe that so many people have had sitings of this creature.
I totally agree! I hardly knew anything about the Loch Ness before reading this book, or about the lochs, locks, etc...I think it is very interesting how most of the sightings use the same details to describe Nessie, however, still many didn't believe that she existed. As stated in the first bullet, "cryptids are creatures that exist in some form within science, but are not accepted as real". After reading this story, I have no reason to believe Nessie is not real, but I still find it difficult!! After googling Loch Ness monster, it is great how Nessie has her own website! There is some very interesting information about Nessie, her life, and her researchers that could really assist in a group research project. (As the reader response person, I thought I'd add that in!)
ReplyDeleteI like the research you presented on cryptids and
ReplyDeleteCrypto-zoologists. I had never heard of these terms before I read this book. I agree that it is up to the individual to make their own decision as to whether or not the Loch Ness Monster exists but knowing the research behind the myth helps a person make an informed decision. I agree with Michelle that there is alot of great webistes that you could go on that present nice visuals of the actual lake in Scotland and first-hand accoutns of the monster sightings. Reading this book made me want to research more information on the Loch Ness Monster!