Choose One Partner to Work with During This Activity

CRTW 201Hiner

Postman, Chapter Nine and “The Toolbox Activity”

Choose one partner to work with during this activity.

Activity A

You will be assigned one of the Elements of Reasoning to use in your analysis and assessment of Chapter Nine in Postman’s AOTD.

Step One: Read back through your annotation in the chapter, and choose the most significant/important place in the chapter where that element is discussed or represented.

1)The most important/significant statement of purpose is on page . . .

2)The most critical/significant question at issue in this chapter is . . .

3)The most significant/compelling evidence/information in relation to the chapter’s purpose is . . .

4)The most important, key, or critical concept discussed in this chapter is . . .

5)The assumption most important to upholding Postman’s claim in this chapter is . . .

6)The most significant/important implications or consequences of Postman’s claims are . . .

7)The most significant point of view discussed or considered in this chapter is . . .

8)The most significant/important conclusion Postman draws in this chapter is. . .

Step Two: In pairs, create one discussion question related to the chapter and your assigned element. What would you want to ask your peers concerning the implications of what you found during your investigation of your element in the chapter? Be prepared to lead the class in a brief discussion based on your question.

Activity B

“The Toolbox Activity”: In pairs, consider the meaning, implications, and “real life” application of your assigned element. Then, as the classroom “toolbox” is passed around, look carefully at the tools in the box. Consider what each tool accomplishes when used, and then choose the tool that best represents your element. Make sure you can explain why that tool best functions as a metaphor for your element as you see it. You will need to come up to the class in pairs to discuss why you chose your particular tool to explain the use of your element in real life situations.

Activity C

Postman claims, “If politics is like show business, then the ideas is not to pursue excellence, clarity, or honesty but to appear as if you are, which is another matter altogether” (126).Here is my question for you: Do we still expect politicians to tell the truth? Why or why not?What are the implications and consequences of an electorate that no longer expects truth, excellence, or clarity from politicians, but only expects to be pleased, entertained, etc.? In groups or pairs, think about recent examples in the news or in political election cycles. Can you find evidence of a shift away from expecting the truth from politicians to desiring to be entertained? Can you find counter-evidence for Postman’s claim? (You can use your smart phones, laptops, class computer, etc.)