Reading Discussion Guidelines
Posting Summaries and Questions
When it is your turn to begin your reading group's discussion, post a general summary from that week's assigned text. This should be no longer than 1-2 paragraphs. Next, post a question or set of questions that builds off of an idea from class. This question should allow your group members to show what they understood from the reading, connect personally to the ideas or events in the reading, and facilitate deeper reflection of ideas from the course.
Sample Summary and Question (From The Jungle by Upton Sinclair)
In Chapters 1-3 of The Jungle by Upton Sinclair we are introduced to several of the book's characters and learn that the story takes place in Chicago's meatpacking community around the turn of the twentieth century. The book begins with a wedding between Jurgis and Ona (p. 7). Though everybody needs to be at work at seven the next morning, the party goes long into the night. After the wedding scene, the book takes us back in time to when Jurgis's and Ona's families came to Chicago (p. 27). They are shocked by the realities of the stockyards but have faith that Jurgis and the others will find employment and thrive. Jurgis eventually finds a job at Browns'. Jokubas shows his friends around Packingtown and through a meat packing plant (p. 40).
In lecture (4/22/10), we discussed the push-pull factors of immigration, or the fact that when people immigrate from one country to another there are complementary factors at play, factors that "push" simultaneously people from one country and factors that "pull" people to another country. This is a critique of the notion that people immigrate to the US simply because of freedom. Are you aware of the push-pull factors that shaped your family's immigration to the United States? Do you see any similarities between what the characters in The Jungle experienced and what your family experienced? Do you think immigrants today experience similar conditions? If you could have your way, what basic rights would you make sure immigrants have?
Sample Reflection
My family came to the United States from the Philippines at different times. The majority came in the 1920s and were forced to work as migrant laborers in the coastal region of the western United States. A major push factor (as best I can discern from family's stories) was that my great-grandfather in the Philippines passed away suddenly. My grandfather was the oldest son and needed to find stable work to send money home to his family. The US was advertising for laborers, and he was pulled to the US because the Philippines became a territory after the Spanish American and Philippine American Wars. The conditions my ancestors experienced as migrant laborers were deplorable. When the characters are introduced to the work environments and conditions in the book (pp. 36-40), it makes me think about what it must have been like for my ancestors to come to this country and realize what backbreaking work it was to work in the asparagus fields.
I think that there are a variety of types of immigrants doing lots of different type of work. Certainly, today's migrant laborers are most likely immigrants. I'm not very aware of working conditions today, but I doubt they are the kind I would want to work under. In terms of rights, I think today's immigrants have rights, but I don't know that they necessarily have the means to make sure they aren't being exploited by more powerful people or organizations (i.e. corporations). I think it's critical to distinguish between documented and undocumented immigrants to answer these questions. I have some people in my family who are undocumented and they mainly work "under the table" in positions that aren't taxed or regulated by the U.S. government. They have faced horrible situations such as not getting paid for work they did, their employers up and moving without telling them, and being expected to work hours that are not legal. If I had my way, I would make sure these immigrants didn't get exploited by making sure they had access to legal representation when employers are treating them unfairly.
Posting A Successful Response
Prior to posting your reflection, ask yourself the following: (1) Did I answer the question posed by my peer? (2) How is my response different from or similar to what others have posted? (3) Do I reference the text? (you can cite page numbers and/or include quotations). (4) Are my thoughts clearly communicated? Feel free to read other classmate's postings, including those from other groups, but make sure what you contribute is your own thinking. 1-2 thoughtful paragraphs will be sufficient. Reflections will be scored out of 10 possible points.
- Note which group you are assigned to. Look for the two drop down menus above and locate your name: OBD (Sherrie) and OBD (Peter).
- Reading discussions begin with a summary and a set of questions asked by you or one of your peers. After the initial post has been made, the rest of the group members respond to the questions.
- Each week, a new student must take a turn initiating your group's online book discussion. The first post should come from the person whose name shows up first in the drop-down menu. The following week, the second name listed on the drop down menu should take their turn. Subsequent postings should follow this pattern.
- If you are responsible for initiating your conversation, you must post your summary and questions by Sunday at 5 PM and responses must be posted by Monday at 12:30 PM (one hour before class starts). If Monday is a holiday, the posting must be made an hour before the next in-class session.
- If the group member responsible for starting the conversation has not posted by 5 PM on Sunday, anyone else may post in their place. Missing a posting deadline will result in a zero for that week's post.
Posting Summaries and Questions
When it is your turn to begin your reading group's discussion, post a general summary from that week's assigned text. This should be no longer than 1-2 paragraphs. Next, post a question or set of questions that builds off of an idea from class. This question should allow your group members to show what they understood from the reading, connect personally to the ideas or events in the reading, and facilitate deeper reflection of ideas from the course.
Sample Summary and Question (From The Jungle by Upton Sinclair)
In Chapters 1-3 of The Jungle by Upton Sinclair we are introduced to several of the book's characters and learn that the story takes place in Chicago's meatpacking community around the turn of the twentieth century. The book begins with a wedding between Jurgis and Ona (p. 7). Though everybody needs to be at work at seven the next morning, the party goes long into the night. After the wedding scene, the book takes us back in time to when Jurgis's and Ona's families came to Chicago (p. 27). They are shocked by the realities of the stockyards but have faith that Jurgis and the others will find employment and thrive. Jurgis eventually finds a job at Browns'. Jokubas shows his friends around Packingtown and through a meat packing plant (p. 40).
In lecture (4/22/10), we discussed the push-pull factors of immigration, or the fact that when people immigrate from one country to another there are complementary factors at play, factors that "push" simultaneously people from one country and factors that "pull" people to another country. This is a critique of the notion that people immigrate to the US simply because of freedom. Are you aware of the push-pull factors that shaped your family's immigration to the United States? Do you see any similarities between what the characters in The Jungle experienced and what your family experienced? Do you think immigrants today experience similar conditions? If you could have your way, what basic rights would you make sure immigrants have?
Sample Reflection
My family came to the United States from the Philippines at different times. The majority came in the 1920s and were forced to work as migrant laborers in the coastal region of the western United States. A major push factor (as best I can discern from family's stories) was that my great-grandfather in the Philippines passed away suddenly. My grandfather was the oldest son and needed to find stable work to send money home to his family. The US was advertising for laborers, and he was pulled to the US because the Philippines became a territory after the Spanish American and Philippine American Wars. The conditions my ancestors experienced as migrant laborers were deplorable. When the characters are introduced to the work environments and conditions in the book (pp. 36-40), it makes me think about what it must have been like for my ancestors to come to this country and realize what backbreaking work it was to work in the asparagus fields.
I think that there are a variety of types of immigrants doing lots of different type of work. Certainly, today's migrant laborers are most likely immigrants. I'm not very aware of working conditions today, but I doubt they are the kind I would want to work under. In terms of rights, I think today's immigrants have rights, but I don't know that they necessarily have the means to make sure they aren't being exploited by more powerful people or organizations (i.e. corporations). I think it's critical to distinguish between documented and undocumented immigrants to answer these questions. I have some people in my family who are undocumented and they mainly work "under the table" in positions that aren't taxed or regulated by the U.S. government. They have faced horrible situations such as not getting paid for work they did, their employers up and moving without telling them, and being expected to work hours that are not legal. If I had my way, I would make sure these immigrants didn't get exploited by making sure they had access to legal representation when employers are treating them unfairly.
Posting A Successful Response
Prior to posting your reflection, ask yourself the following: (1) Did I answer the question posed by my peer? (2) How is my response different from or similar to what others have posted? (3) Do I reference the text? (you can cite page numbers and/or include quotations). (4) Are my thoughts clearly communicated? Feel free to read other classmate's postings, including those from other groups, but make sure what you contribute is your own thinking. 1-2 thoughtful paragraphs will be sufficient. Reflections will be scored out of 10 possible points.