Week 11 Overview and Goals

This week we begin to read Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (if you didn't buy this at the beginning of the semester, do so immediately.  Don't try to buy it on Amazon; use the SRJC bookstore, or a local bookstore--you don't have time wait for it to be shipped!).

I have reposted my advice about active reading strategies that we covered earlier this semester.  You'll need to be using these active reading strategies for Coates book.  The book will be challenging, but interesting.  Coates' meaning will not always be immediately clear, but he is speaking on what is arguably the largest challenge currently facing our country.  Since he is one of most prominent writers on race-issues in our country, it is worth your time to consider his ideas carefully. 

Goals

If we're successful in this module, you will:

• Preview the content of Coates book, and review the elements of active reading strategies.
• Discuss your expectations of the book with your class members.
• Read pp 5-12 of Coates, and track his use of a few key themes in our shared "Quote Bank."
• Discuss any challenging ideas presented in this first section of the book.

Schedule

To reach the goals for this module, you'll need to complete the following activities:

Due dates	Activities
11/4	Read Alexander's review of Between the World and Me, watch Coates discussing the book with Jon Stewart, and post your thoughts about this "preview" of the book to the "Coates Preview" discussion.
11/7	Read p 5-12 of Between the World and Me.  Annotate and take notes, making note of places that are difficult for you, and mark quotes related to the book's major themes.
11/7	Post a quote related to one of the key themes of Coates' book to our "Quote Bank" Google doc.
11/7	Post a response to our discussion about difficulties with this first, short section of the Coates' book.