Our history - where the class has been

It's always been difficult giving potential new students a good idea of what the Reading and Speaking class does. When this came up again a few days ago, I decided that the best solution was to create an evolving list of the class materials. This lets people see what we have read and the sorts of questions we then discuss based on the reading, and before we get to the reading.

This historical list of our readings and discussion questions is linked to on the menu bar above

• Our History - what we have read and discussed
  It's a Google Doc that anyone with the link can read at any time. 

My plan is to add new material at the top, so I've already created the entry for term 1 of 2017, which will be filled in later. 

Over the break, I will also go backwards in our history a bit more, adding material from 2015, and perhaps earlier. We really have read a great variety, both of topics and of types of texts. 

I hope you enjoy browsing our history.

If you have friends who might be interested in the class, send them that link = https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CXvqTQS4KaNKi3MLyfU-pBdHxdCCkIzYv9cvbvYuQws/edit?usp=sharing

Or snap the QR code.

Is this hate speech?

The current story arc for the Dilbert comics I enjoy reading seems to me to be relevant to our current reading. Click on the images to see them full size.

Here is the cartoon for Monday (2016, December 12):

Cartoonist Says Something Bad On Social Media Real.
Retrieved from http://dilbert.com/strip/2016-12-12

And for Tuesday (2016, December 13):

Asok Agrees to Be Hitman. Retrieved from http://dilbert.com/strip/2016-12-13

Is there racism in the second cartoon? Does the first one show hate speech?

1+1=2: Fact or opinion?

As I was enjoying my large morning dose of my favourite drug of addiction, I came across an article that suggested a whole set of readings for next term. They would build on, but be very different to, what we've read this term, with another chance to explore ancient history and contemporary thinking.

My title question about a mathematical truth is just a teaser for what could be the first reading - I haven't decided anything yet.

Comments are welcome.

One writing option

I don't like the idea of adding academic writing to our class. Writing essay's is a lot of work, and very different to what we do.
If you do want to add some writing, I think something like a class blog is a better option. It is relaxed and it allows discussion in comments and replies. Over the last couple of days, I've created this blog as an example of what could be done.

I've also just sent you an email to join as a member. When you are a member you can post to share ideas and respond to posts. It's like a discussion, but in writing.

Welcome to our class blog

I've just started this class blog as a place for relaxed writing. We can share ideas here without having to write an essay!