The Secrets Cont'd: How to Study a Course Reading Sp18

How do you study a course reading?
There are three key steps in this process.


1. Start with an outline of the reading.  For example, below is an outline for the first chapter of McPhail’s Global Communication (3rd Edition).  Sometimes you may find an expanded/detailed chapter outline at the beginning of the book.  If not, like below, you’ll have to do it yourself

• Chapter/Reading Title: Global Communication (Background)
• Introduction
• Terrorism and September 11, 2001
• Latin American Media
• Left-wing Connection: Latin America
• Chile: US Government Media Interaction
• History of the War Correspondent
• New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO)
• Electronic Colonialism Theory (ECT)
• Four Epochs of Global Colonization
• History of Electronic Colonialism Theory
• What is Electronic Colonialism Theory (ECT)?
• World System Theory (WST)
• The Connection: Electronic Colonialism and World Systems Theories
• Communication Forces among Nations
• Breadth of the Problem
• Format for the Balance of the Book

With this outline you can see the big picture and how things are related.

2. Fill in the outline with words and lists.  Note that already in the outline there may be lists that you spot.  For example, in the outline above, there is already a short list of global communication theories (ECT and WST).  A possible quiz or exam question could be: Identify and explain two theories of global communication identified in the reading.

Below only some of the relevant words and lists are incorporated into the outline.  This is not complete, but serves as an example.  The few examples given are in italics and in blue in the example outline below.

Chapter/Reading Title: Global Communication (Background)

Introduction

Three Important Traits of the Cultural Dimension of Global Communication

How much foreign content....

How is this foreign content...

How are domestic....

Terrorism and September 11, 2001

Latin American Media

Left-wing Connection: Latin America

Chile: US Government Media Interaction

History of the War Correspondent

New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO)

NWICO stands for New World Information and Communication Order and is...

Electronic Colonialism Theory (ECT)

Four Epochs of Global Colonization

1 Military colonialism - BC-1000 AD...

2 ….

3….

4….

History of Electronic Colonialism Theory

What is Electronic Colonialism Theory (ECT)?

World System Theory (WST)

The Connection: Electronic Colonialism and World Systems Theories

Communication Forces among Nations

Breadth of the Problem

Format for the Balance of the Book

3. Now carefully study the expanded outline.  Maybe break it apart into flash cards or condense it and put it on one sheet of paper.  Do whatever works for you.  Now also, based on the expanded outline, try to anticipate possible quiz or exam questions.  For example, a question from the reading above could be:  Identify and briefly explain the four epochs of global colonization.

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