500 words
After reading Steven Johnson’s Watching TV Makes You Smarter, in
They say I say eBook (find it online by google)
sit down with a notebook and watch a single episode of one of your favorite shows.
Not a non-fiction program (like something from The History or Discovery channels), but rather a fictional show. Perhaps an episode you have seen at some point already. Don’t pick Masterpiece Theater in an attempt to impress anyone; just choose something you actually enjoy watching.
Now answer the following question: Is it possible that this episode made you think? Provide me with specifics: a
summary of the episode, your reaction (or
response) to
key points in the episode, and
finally a claim: This episode made me smarter/dumber, because of ______, ______ & _______.
A few side questions to help you get the ball rolling:
Did it reinforce existing assumptions or introduce new ones? Did you have to pay attention or was it easy to zone out while watching?
Follow this template for your subject line: Why [Name of TV Show] Makes You Smarter/Dumber