PSA Project: Day 3; Autobiography

Today, before we head back to the lab to continue working on the PSA project, please gather in your 3 separate groups based on the book you are reading:

• Black Boy
• Breaking Night
• Barro Genius

Together discuss what you've read so far. For those of you who haven't started yet, you will want to get going on the book. We'll complete the reading in about 2 weeks. Plan your time.


Your group's task: Together you will write your own BOOK CLUB discussion questions and create a discussion group guide similar to those used in reading clubs.


The components include:

• Information about the author or publishing history. Since these are autobiographies, this will be a short synopsis of the book, most likely.
• A short summary. Answer: what's the book about?
• Critical reviews. Find a review for the book. Reviews can be found online.
• Topics to discuss (discussion questions). All members in the group should come up with a minimum of 2-3 discussion questions.
• Extended reading list. A list of other similar books or films that a reader might enjoy.
• Notes from class discussion. Usually not required in a casual book club, but each discussion session should be logged with members present and a short summary of topics discussed. This can be a bulleted list. I recommend sharing this responsibility.

Give credit to the author(s) that completed each section of the book club. Your group only needs one info page, one summary of the book, one review, one list of discussion topics (but each author of a discussion question should be indicated in brackets or parenthesis), one reading list, but several pages of notes based on discussion meetings. Each class period you will be asked to hold a short discussion group meeting. All this is due in approximately 2 weeks.


Sample discussion questions:

• What made you want to read this book?
• What motivated the author to share his/her life story? How did you respond to the author's voice?
• Do you think the author is trying to elicit a certain response from the reader? If so, what reaction might it have been? Did reviewers have a similar reaction? Is this the reaction you had while reading? Why or why not?

LAB: PSA Project. Please work on your PSA project in the lab. Help your group members complete the project for a Friday deadline.


HOMEWORK: PSA projects! If you haven't filmed them yet, and you plan to complete your project, please film your PSA project. Also, keep reading your autobiography.