09 Nov Discussion and Reply
DISCUSS: Thoughtfully Connecting the Past and Present
This week, you will write into your complex answer to the question you chose for the week, and respond to your classmates’ ideas. The goal this week is to cultivate a radical sense of openness by engaging suggestions for making your claims stronger.
First Post:
1. Indicate which question you are using and which American text(s) you are pairing with Homegoing.
2. What is your interpretation of what the question is asking? This is an important part of the analytical process–to be able to restate in your own words what the question is asking. Try: “To me, question #2 is asking X, which means ________.”
3. Answer the question using key evidence from your analytical work. You will need to use direct quotes here to help you explore ideas, think about showing the narrative line you discovered in your storyboarding activity. Consider also showing possibilities in your answer instead of settling on just one claim. Try writing into this template: “This (insert evidence here) could mean … or this could also mean …” to get to a level of complex thinking. Make sure to explain how the details you have focused on in the evidence lead to your working claim. Explore possible meanings here without putting pressure on anything final. In your answer, avoid finality and use language to keep your thinking open and fluid. You will need to write at least 2 healthy paragraphs here, and consider including your storyboard as an attached visual, as an image in the post.
You will need to post before seeing other answers.
Second post: To reply to someone, follow this prompt:
For every complex and evidence-based claim, there are other views, complications, and details that might complicate or even invalidate the claim. Part of learning how to strengthen your analytical skills is in staying open to opposing views and then USING those views to make your own claim stronger. To help your classmate see an opposing view, use this prompt to reply to someone’s claim.
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(Restate your classmate’s claim) seems compelling, but you could be wrong because ….. (offer alternate view).
<shiver> We all hate to be wrong! But it happens. When we stay open to possibly missing something in our analysis, any insight offered constructively helps strengthen our views.
Third post: Respond and Reformulate
Then, respond to the insight by rethinking and reformulating your claim, OR using the insight to reestablish the validity of your original claim (which is also an analytical skill!) If no one has responded to your post, you can also think critically about your own claim, by noting what it explains but might also leave out.
