ENGL 1101: Introduction to University Writing
1
Reading for Content (Practice)
Wohlsen, M. (2014, September 15). Digital literacy is the key to the future, but
we still don’t know what it means. WIRED. Retrieved from
https://www.wired.com/2014/09/digital-literacy-key-future-still-dontknow-means/
TOPIC
Identify the larger topic or focus.
1. What topic or social debate is being addressed in this article? What consists
of digital literacy.
2. Does the author seem to have a clear focus on a particular question or issue?
He moves from what is digital literacy to how to teach it to what is needed
beyond digital literacy.
3. Does the author seem to offer a particular opinion or stance on a topic or
issue? That digital literacy is more than just learning to code.
MAIN IDEA
Identify the main message.
1. Is the author trying to teach us something or persuade us of something?
What is it? That digital literacy is important for future success, but it is a
broad concept that you need to define before you can discuss.
2. What do you think Wohlsen most wants us to understand by reading his
article? That digital literacy is more than just teaching kids coding.
3. Can you find one place where the article states this main idea? Is it in the
introduction, or does it come later in the piece? Within the first (bolded
header) section of the article.
MAP
Map the key points.
1. Make a list of the key points offered in the article.
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2
Reading for Content (Practice)
2. Note how each point relates to the main idea.
3. Focus on the most necessary ideas.
-Digital literacy is tricky to define: relates to how digital literacy is difficult to
define
-It’s not just about learning to code: relates to how digital literacy is difficult to
define
-And learning to code is tricky to define: relates to how digital literacy is difficult to
define
-Teaching kids about computing is more important than putting computers into
classrooms: relates to how digital literacy is important
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