We will spend Tuesday class sessions discussing readings. You should complete reading assignments ahead of time and come prepared for lively conversation. If you are the discussion leader for the class, your primary responsibility is to identify and examine the central point of the reading. Your discussion and essay should be structured around an exploration of the following questions:

• What is the central point of the reading? What are the authors trying to say?
• What did you learn from this reading?
  (as a designer, an engineer, a person)
• How do the authors make their case? Are they convincing?
• How does the reading relate to the theme of the class?

Whether or not you're the discussion leader, think about these questions as you read and as you prepare for class. Resist the temptation to focus on whether you agree or disagree with the author. Focus instead on the ideas the author is articulating and what you can learn from them. You are expected to participate in discussions with your full attention. The use of laptops and phones during discussions is prohibited.