Apple computers have a great app called “stickies.” This allows you to have virtual sticky notes on your desktop screen at all time. This was beneficial for me because I have one titled “Blog Posts” and any time I have an idea I add it to this sticky. On this sticky, I had written, “They Say I Say pg. 163.” After opening the book pages I now realize this page goes hand in hand with my last blog post about the power of group work. My ideas from my last post are now woven into another text– and here we have our old friend, intertextuality.
Graff and Birkenstein state, “Have you ever been in a class discussion that feels less like a genuine meeting of the minds than like a series of discrete disconnected monologues? You make a comment, say, that seems provocative to you, but the classmate who speaks after you makes no reference to what you said, instead going off in an entirely different direction.” (163.) Graff and Birkenstein explain what not to do in a class discussion. I, unfortunately, or maybe fortunately because it has caused me to grow, fell into this trap at the beginning of this class. My interjections into class discussion didn’t respond to others, rather just allowed me to be heard. I know this, because after my first blog post, Professor McCoy’s response told me so! After some reflection, I realized she was right!
Following her response to my post, I made it my goal to respond in class with purpose, and by bouncing my ideas off of other’s like a bouncy ball! “the single most important thing you need to do when joining a class discussion is to link what you are about to say to something that has already been said.” (Graff and Birkenstein 164.) Graff and Birkenstein emphasize exactly what Professor McCoy has told us, and I am so thankful for how my participation in group discussions has, and will change.