Post the two primary source summaries that you started in class (see The Method worksheet for details). In addition, write a paragraph (5-10 sentences) explaining which source you’ve chosen to work with and why you’ve decided on this source. As you address why you’ve made this decision, reflect also on the “so what?” of your topic—why it matters in a contemporary social and cultural context. You don’t have to have the “so what?” figured out right now; use this opportunity to generate ideas on why this topic could be important, that is, what its stakes could be.

Along with the written portion, post three images that relate to the primary source you’ve chosen. You should try to select images that you might use in your Symposium Presentation. Although these images don’t necessarily need to satisfy the standards guiding a successful primary source, eventually they need to:

• Extend your thinking about your primary source
• Consider a range of connections to the course theme
• Engage with one another thematically

For example, consider a primary source that is a Pepsi commercial depicting young women and men drinking Pepsi and playing volleyball on a beach. You could gather images of young people as commonly depicted in popular culture, images of beaches used in advertising, infographics that show the effects that high soda consumption has on the body, etc.

Create citations for each of these images according to chapter 2 of The Writer’s Companion and the handout entitled “How to Find and Identify Images for Your Symposium Presentation.” As you search for images, keep in mind that they will affect the direction of your projects.