Synthesis Project and Presentation

In class today, we will be working on the group synthesis essay project and a collective response to go along with the subject of literacy.  The directions for this project are as follows:

For this short presentation, you will work in groups of 3-4 to:
1.  Consider the following prompt:
      Reading has long been considered a fundamental aspect to learning.  Benjamin Franklin, amongst countless others, knew of the importance of reading not only to an individual’s growth, but to the growth of society as a whole.  It was with this initiative in mind that he and fellow colonial citizens created the public library system in America.  Recently, through a variety of economic and technologically progressive circumstances, public libraries (including those in public schools) have been forced to be consolidated in locations, reduced in hours or staffing, or eliminated from communities nationwide entirely.  
Imagine that a community is considering these measures be taken in their local library branch and school libraries.  

Carefully read the following seven sources.  Then, synthesize information from at least three of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed essay that identifies the key issues associated with this problem of eliminating public libraries and examines the implications of these choices for the community.  

Make sure that your argument is central; use the sources to support and illustrate your reasoning.  Avoid merely summarizing the sources.  Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary.  You may cite the sources according to the last name of the author, or the publication for the graphic.

2.  Discuss the various stances that could be taken in response.
3.  Decide on your group's claim and develop a thesis statement.
4.  Choose and justify the sources which you would use to support your position and to develop your counterargument.
5.  Outline the main points and supporting details from the various referenced sources.
6.   Decide who will present which aspect, so that each person in the group is speaking at least once.
7.  Present on Wednesday!  If you will not be present, your assignment is to write the synthesis essay.

Read, summarize and respond to your assigned article below:
Article 1:  "Why to Read: 10 Reasons Why Reading Books Will Save Your Life"
Article 2:  "Reading Books is Fundamental" by Charles Blow, New York Times, 1/22/14
Article 3:  "Millennials are Outreading Older Generations"
Article 4:  "Next Time Someone Says the Internet Killed Reading..."
Article 5:  "The Most Important Lesson Schools Can Teach about Reading"
Article 6:  "Reading is not a Skill"
Article 7:  "A Country Without Libraries"