Homework and in-class "Silent Seminar" (9/26)

Hi all:

For homework on 9/26, please read the packet that I handed out in class and prepare to come to class ready for your unit seminar - prepare just like last time by reading and annotating the all the documents in the packet. You did such a great job last time, so please put the same effort into this seminar! Remember, this is an assessed part of your unit grade, so be prepared!

This seminar is going to be slightly different - I'm going to switch up the styles of the seminar over the course of the year. This seminar is a "silent seminar" - which means there will be NO talking! Instead, each table will be given a packet of questions - four pages with four questions. Each person on the table will answer a question taking about 15 minutes per question. After the first round of 15 minutes, you will pass your answer to someone else on your table. Then you answer that question in the next 15 minutes *BUT ALSO RESPOND DIRECTLY TO WHAT THE PERSON WROTE IN THEIR RESPONSE*. By the time you answer the last question, you will be not only answering the question, but responding and reacting to the answers of three other people! After answering all the questions, you will receive the question that you started with and provide a final response to the other comments (taking about 5-10 minutes). At the end of the seminar, you should have answered all four of the questions and made at least five comments.

It is important that you don't ignore the comments of others and write your response to the question excluding the ideas. You could very well have similar ideas as others - in which case say that and respond or expand! In the same vein, be positive as well as critical in your responsive. The goal is to replicate a debate or discussion but through written means rather than verbal.

I will assess you in a similar way - I'm interested primarily in your ability to answer the questions, your use of the information packet (which you CAN use in the seminar), and how you respond to the comments of others.

Have fun :)