WEEK 5 READING NOTEBOOK
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GEN104 Week 5 Reading Notebook v. 05.11.20 Content adapted from Excelsior University OWL
Week 5 Reading Notebook Summarizing, & Synthesizing Activity
This activity has two parts. The first part will give you practice summarizing your reading. The second part will give you practice in forming an opinion based on what you read (synthesizing).
Summarizing Read the following passage and provide your own summary after each passage.
Your summary (box will expand as you type):
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GEN104 Week 5 Reading Notebook v. 05.11.20 Content adapted from Excelsior University OWL
Your summary (box will expand as you type):
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GEN104 Week 5 Reading Notebook v. 05.11.20 Content adapted from Excelsior University OWL
Your summary (box will expand as you type):
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GEN104 Week 5 Reading Notebook v. 05.11.20 Content adapted from Excelsior University OWL
Synthesizing For the previous three passages, you summarized what you read. Now, for the following passages, you will synthesize by filling in the blanks with your own words. Exercise 1: Fuel Alternatives Many gas stations now blend their fuels with ethanol, a product derived from corn. Ethanol is promoted as an environmentally-friendly alternative because it is not as harmful to the environment as fossil fuels. However, the production of ethanol requires a tremendous amount of corn, which has contributed to food shortages and rising food costs. Additionally, since a tremendous amount of fossil fuel is required to grow, harvest, and ship corn, the environmental benefits of ethanol are dubious. This passage challenges conventional reasoning by arguing: After considering the points raised in this passage, I now believe:
Exercise 2: Celiac Disease and Gluten Allergies Celiac disease and gluten-related allergies and sensitivities are on the rise throughout the world. It's now believed that the cause of gluten-related health problems has to do with modern industrial farming and baking techniques. Excessive hybridization has vastly increased the gluten yield in wheat, which is the cause of allergic responses. Furthermore, the recent use of chemical pesticides as a pre-harvest desiccant to increase crop yield has been found to contaminate kernels and transfer pesticides into the gut, which disrupt gut bacteria and lead to digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome. Finally, the use of instant dry yeast to speed up industrial baking has altered the chemical composition of traditional wheat products like pasta and bread, making them harder to digest. As a result, the traditional wheat products we once enjoyed are not what they used to be. According to this passage, wheat and wheat products have been altered by: In response, I think:
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GEN104 Week 5 Reading Notebook v. 05.11.20 Content adapted from Excelsior University OWL
Exercise 3: Early Academics Debate Passage 1 It used to be that the first few years of elementary school were all about crafts, story time, and courtyard play. However, tests demonstrate that children in the United States are falling behind their peers in other countries in the academic areas of math, science, reading, and writing. Schools need to implement a more rigorous academic program at an earlier age. A focus on academics that emphasizes standards, frequent testing, and plenty of homework will help bridge the international academic gap. Passage 2 The introduction of academic standards, testing, and homework at an early age contradicts research that shows children are not developmentally prepared for academic work until at least 7 or 8, and the emphasis on academics before then can actually harm a child's personal and educational development. The Scandinavian countries, which consistently rank high in educational achievement, have developed a public education model that embraces this research. As a result, children in Scandinavia spend much more time playing and socializing than listening and quietly working. Academics are not given significant attention until the latter years of elementary school. The second passage refutes the claim made in the first passage by arguing: The conclusion I draw from this debate is: