last updated 8/23/2010

Flagging the Text.

For today's class (and on a number of other days during the semester) we will be discussing in some depth assigned reading material.  My goal is for us to analyze the text mutually and construct an outline of key ideas jointly.  I would like you to come to class having prepared answers for the following:

1. What is the thesis, theme or central idea of the reading assigned for today?

2. What are the two or three (or more) sections of the text you find to be unclear or hard to understand?

3. What are the two or three (or more) sections of the text you find to be the most significant to citizenship and media?

4. What section(s) of the text do you think are questionable or wrong?

In order to answer questions 2, 3 and 4 and participate effectively in the discussion, you will need to "flag the text."  That is, you will need to mark on your copy of the reading (or record in some other way) the sections you identify in your answers.  And you will need to bring the reading with you to class each day of discussion.  During class I will call on various of you to tell us which sections of the text you "flagged" and to explain why those sections stood out for you.

After we discuss the questions, we'll try to outline the assigned reading together and figure out the implications of this material for citizens.