Reading and preparing for discussions

 

Over the semester you will read several articles that will be the basis of class discussions, both in lecture and in recitations.  To prepare for these discussions, follow these steps:

 

1) Download the article from the course webpage (user “biol211” pwd “ecology”).  Be sure to choose the correct article by name and title.  Print or save a copy to read and bring to discussion.

 

2) Read the article carefully and critically.  While reading any scientific article, be aware of its structure: background information gives the context for an unsolved problem, a question or hypothesis is posed, a critical test of the hypothesis is given, methods for the test are described, results are summarized, and conclusions are drawn.  Always ask whether the author has presented a convincing case.  Is the question well-defined?  Is a prediction identified?  Does testing the hypothesis answer the question?  What would the results look like if the prediction were not supported?  Are conclusions supported by the results?  Are there alternative explanations?  Finally, how does the article relate to the scientific topics covered in this course? 

            Jot down questions and thoughts as you read.  Use these jottings for the next step.

 

3) Write two (2) formal DQs.   DQs are discussion questions that you will compose after reading the article.  DQs help to focus your reading and give you a chance to question something in the article or to speculate on something of interest the article raised.

· General tips for writing impressive DQs:

1.      Start your Q with enough information to make clear why it is worth asking (provide a context for wanting to discuss possible answers)

2.      Ask Qs that require thinking and do not ask for factual information (asking for facts will not prompt the discussion of ideas)

3.      Ask Qs that are highly relevant to the conclusions of the paper (tangential topics are interesting, but should have lower priority than addressing the goals of the author)

4.      Focus your Qs on the science (examine the evidence for and against ideas, and raise possible alternative explanations)

5.      Add information that begins a possible answer

· Examples.  Imagine you read an article on habitat alteration and the cultural practice of statue-building after human colonization of Easter Island in the South Pacific.

Poor: “Why did the Easter Island inhabitants build statues?”

Fair: “Building the statues seems impractical.  What practical benefit might they have served on Easter Island?”

Good: “Constructing the statues required a large investment of time, wealth, and energy, which could have been put into more practical projects.  Could the statues have had any practical value?  If not, what was the benefit of building them?  It seems they might have been a demonstration of wealth among groups, or a religious tribute.  What kinds of other evidence would support either of these ideas?”

· Email your DQs to me by noon on the day before discussions.  Late submissions will not receive credit.  Bring another copy for use in discussion.  Important: please paste DQs into the body of your email (not in an attachment) and use the subject “lastname DQs week x”.

Note: in some cases I will instead give you DQs and have you prepare answers before discussion.

 

4) During discussion, participate actively.  Your grade will be based on: attendance, the thoughtfulness of your DQs, and thoughtful and courteous participation.

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