2008 Woodie Awards
Students unravel the fabric of politics in the 2008 ISU summer reading program featuring the novel "unSpun: Finding Facts in a World of Disinformation," by Brooks Jackson & Kathleen Hall Jamieson.
"The purpose of the Summer Reading Program is to encourage all first year students to read the same book over the summer and then to discuss it at August orientation," said Linda Maule, general education coordinator and associate professor in the political science department. "Also, a lot of incoming students will be involved in learning communities or first year seminars, and those programs are also asking them to read it."
"unSpun" deals with distinguishing fact from fiction, including analyzing biased media reportage and the common tricks used to mislead the public.
"It does a very nice job of communicating one of our learning objectives in the general education program, which is for our students to become more information literate," Maule said. "It argues, and I think compellingly, that people must be information literate to be effective citizens."
The book was chosen in part because many faculty had taught it in the fall and spring semesters and got a positive response from students, Maule said.
Jamieson, an expert on campaign communication, will be visiting campus on Sept. 15 to discuss both "unSpun" and the presidential election.
"We are so fortunate in America to be able to assume a literate population-we think everyone learns how to read and, mostly, everyone does," said Darlene Hantzis, communications and women's studies professor. "However, the level of our literacy is threatened by the absence of a practice of reading, especially among recent, current and future college students."
Indiana State also moved to the forefront of literacy when Diana Quatroche, the chairwoman for the elementary, early and special education department, was recently named the executive director of the Indiana State Reading Association.
The Reading Association gives support to reading councils, hosts conferences and programs and gives the university
"The purpose of the Summer Reading Program is to encourage all first year students to read the same book over the summer and then to discuss it at August orientation," said Linda Maule, general education coordinator and associate professor in the political science department. "Also, a lot of incoming students will be involved in learning communities or first year seminars, and those programs are also asking them to read it."
"unSpun" deals with distinguishing fact from fiction, including analyzing biased media reportage and the common tricks used to mislead the public.
"It does a very nice job of communicating one of our learning objectives in the general education program, which is for our students to become more information literate," Maule said. "It argues, and I think compellingly, that people must be information literate to be effective citizens."
The book was chosen in part because many faculty had taught it in the fall and spring semesters and got a positive response from students, Maule said.
Jamieson, an expert on campaign communication, will be visiting campus on Sept. 15 to discuss both "unSpun" and the presidential election.
"We are so fortunate in America to be able to assume a literate population-we think everyone learns how to read and, mostly, everyone does," said Darlene Hantzis, communications and women's studies professor. "However, the level of our literacy is threatened by the absence of a practice of reading, especially among recent, current and future college students."
Indiana State also moved to the forefront of literacy when Diana Quatroche, the chairwoman for the elementary, early and special education department, was recently named the executive director of the Indiana State Reading Association.
The Reading Association gives support to reading councils, hosts conferences and programs and gives the university
RECENT STORIES WITH VIDEO
Be the first to comment on this story