BEFORE YOU WATCH: Drought and Famine

Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.

By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:

According to John Green, what causes famine?
Where do most famines occur and why?
Why were British railroads a mixed blessing in India?
According to John Green, how does liberal economic theory not only help cause famines, but also make them worse?
How can John Green’s arguments be interpreted as in support of globalization?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.

At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:

How can the evidence in this video be used to make arguments both in support of and against globalization?
Does this video give any evidence that would support the idea of either a “lumpy” or “flat” world?

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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Faviel Rapalo
Posted a year ago. Direct link to Faviel Rapalo's post “it was cool”
it was cool
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