You are required to lead a discussion on BlackBoard once this semester (you will sign up for a date of your choice or be assigned one). This is 20% of your participation grade (which is in turn 20% of your semester grade). This discussion will be based on the readings due for the upcoming class. Please post at least two days before class (so Saturday night for Monday’s class & Monday night for Wednesday’s class) in order to give your classmates time to respond. Please choose from the following prompts to lead the discussion and/or post. 

• Translate the reading in some way (poem, rap, drawing, etc.), posting the file as an attachment (or, if you feel comfortable doing so, with a link to social media) if necessary.
• What words stood out from the reading? Explain why and what they mean with respect to this reading.
• What did you have difficulty understanding from the reading?
• What connections did you make between the reading and anything you have read or studied (whether in this class or another)?
• What is the author’s argument? How does the author support it?
• What is the problematic aspect or concern of the author? 
• Pose a question that “problematizes” the reading (question anything controversial, contradictory, etc. in the reading).

It is alright if you do not fully understand the reading. Do not let this keep you from posting. As you can see above, there are multiple ways for you to address the reading and lead the discussion, including admitting what you had difficulty with. Your analysis of the reading(s) may be at any of the levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (see below). If you are struggling, just always try your best and make sure you post.  

You are also expected to respond to your classmates’ BlackBoard posts regularly, if not always.

 

Image: Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching