Once in the semester, you will work with a classmate to lead the class’s discussion of one of our readings. This exercise is worth 5% of your grade.
The goal here is for you to practice working through and unpacking a complex argument – you don’t have to master every concept raised in your assigned article, but you should spend much more time with it than you usually do in preparing for class.
Each group should prepare a handout or slide show that includes:
• Your summary of two key insights from the article (once sentence per insight)
• Two short passages for the class to discuss in detail (50 words maximum)
• Two areas you would have to explore further order to more deeply understand the article’s arguments
• Two questions for class discussion, to help students connect with the issues the article explores.
Before their turn to lead discussion, each group must make an appointment with me to discuss the readings. I can help you find ideas for questions and examples, suggest which questions are likely to spark good conversation, and clarify anything in the readings that you don’t understand.
You can sign up for a discussion-leading group at ELMS.