Small Groups:  Topics

The class will be divided into groups of 3 or 4 students each.  There will be at least three groups.  Each group will have responsibility for leading the Thursday discussion and for writing a close analysis of the reading in advance so that everyone in the class can read their work and come to class prepared to engage with the topic.  One group will also be assigned the responsibility of critiquing the papers closely.  Each group will prepare for four of these discussions over the course of the semester.  The Thursday discussion will last one hour.  Each group will prepare for these discussions two weeks in advance by staying the last 20 minutes of the Thursday class. 

Responsibilities for the discussion groups are as follows:  Doing the assigned reading two weeks in advance and providing a close analysis of that reading which will be posted on Moodle by Monday afternoon the week of your discussion.  This analysis should include pointed questions or comments that you would like the rest of the class to consider.  Each person in the group will decide in advance which aspect of the reading they wish to analyze. Each member of the group should write a paper of at least 3 typed pages.

Responsibilities of the critiquing group:  Your responsibility is to read the analysis, respond to its arguments and comments, and evaluate its effectiveness.  Some factors to consider:

1.  Is there a clear thesis?  Can you ascertain the writer's point of view within the first paragraph?

2.  Effectiveness of arguments and use of evidence.

3.  Are there counterarguments that can be made?

4.  How helpful and relevant are the posted questions to furthering a good discussion?

Responsibilities of the class:  Your responsibility is to consider the questions and arguements posed by the discussion group and to contribute to a vigorous discussion.

Discussion groups will be assigned topics as follows:

Group 1:  Topics 3, 6, 9 and 12
Group 2:  Topics 4, 7, 10 and 13
Group 3:  Topics 5, 8, 11 and 14

Response groups are listed in red and are the groups that stay the last 20 minutes of the Thursday class.