Discussion Post:
Select a reading from The Conversation website. Use the categories at the top of the page or the search bar to find something that sounds interesting to you.
Read the article and then follow these directions to post. Write your response on a word document and paste into the reply box when you finish. Don't compose directly in the response box.
First: Briefly answer the following two questions.
• What is the rhetorical context of the article? Identify the writer, audience, topic, purpose, and context (i.e., the Rhetorical Situation)
• What is a vocabulary word you learned or found interesting in this article? How was it used in the article, and what is its definition?
Second: Write a summary of your reading selection. This summary should be no longer than 1/3 the length of the original source. The summary should include only important ideas. Do not include details or examples. Summaries only include information from the text--do NOT include your opinion or thoughts on the text.
You can use the following prompt to help you begin your summary:
In "___[title of article]____," ___[author's name(s)____ argues/opines/suggests/informs readers that/wants his or her readers to understand, explains* that ___________[insert author's main point here]__________ .
When you can complete the above sentence, you are ready to summarize the important information.
*chose a good word to describe what the author wants to convey to the reader. Do NOT, however, use "says" or "said."
Then, write one paragraph responding to the information. What do you agree or disagree with and why? What connection can you make to the text? What related examples can you provide or evidence to confirm or disconfirm the text?