Synopsis: In The Dumbest Generation , Mark Bauerlein, a professor of English at
Emory University, argues that young Americans are the dumbest generation due to the digital age (internet, e-mail, blogs, etc.) that has, instead of enlightening youths, caused them to focus so intensely on themselves and their own peers that they lack knowledge and skills essential to being successful members of society.
Bauerlein’s book includes many studies, statistics, and examples that seem to support his view that “the digital age stupefies young Americans and jeopardizes our future.”

Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper or in your book as you read.
Introduction:
1.
What does Bauerlein state is his purpose in writing this book? In other words, what is his claim about the intellect of people under
30 years old?
2.
In what paradoxical ways does Bauerlein describe young
Americans?
3.
Complete the following sentence: Bauerlein believes that instead of opening young Americans’ minds, technology has
_____________________________.
Chapter 1: Knowledge Deficits
4.
What does the “Jaywalking” example show about the average
American?
5.
What reason does Bauerlein give for why young people don’t know world realities and basic historical facts?
6.
According to Bauerlein and the studies he relies on, in which areas
(disciplines) are students lacking knowledge?
7.
How do some academic commentators debunk the findings that seem to show that youth are unintelligent?
8.
In what ways, are today’s students given more opportunities for
“compiling knowledge, elevating taste, and cultivating skills”?
9.
How has, according to the author, adolescents’ “abundant material progress” hindered their intellectual progress?
10.
According to education leader Chester E. Finn, at the age of 18, people have spent ___% of their life in school. This means that

____% of their life is spent out of school and students are using this time “at cross purposes to the values and lessons of school.”
Chapter 2: The New Bibliophobes
11.
According to the first few pages of this chapter, how do many young people feel about reading?
12.
Why are young people so “anti-book”?
13.
If kids don’t read books, why is Harry Potter so popular?
14.
How does “reading for fun” correlate with test scores?
15.
The author argues that college students are bibliophobes. He means that they don’t engage in a.
Pleasure reading b.
Textbook reading c.
Public speaking d.
Completing assignments that require research
16.
Do you agree or disagree with the assertions made by Randy
Bomer of the National Council of English Teachers? Explain.
17.
What is E-literacy?
Chapter 3: Screen Time
18.
Who are the “Millenials” and what inate ability do they have?
19.
According to the study, “Generation M:Media in the Lives of 8-18 year olds,” how many hours do students spend recreationally consuming media? What 2 types of media top the list?
20.
Do you believe that screen time is more beneficial or detrimental to students? Explain your answer using support from this chapter.
21.
What is the Flynn effect? Explain how IQ’s seem to be increasing while general knowledge is not.
22.
Why does the author continually reference Apple?

23.
What does the author mean by the final sentence in this chapter,
“The years have passed, though, and we’re still waiting.”
Chapter 4: Online Learning and Non-Learning
24.
True or False: Because youths engage in blogging, browsing, gaming, and other adolescent activities on the computer, they develop cognitive habits and critical thinking skills that prepare them to handle the technological tasks and evaluation skills required to be successful in college and the workplace.
25.
Those who push technology in the classroom cite better attitudes from students as signs of progress; however, how does technology in the classrooms impact academic achievement?
26.
The author emphasizes that _____________ is essential for students to earn good grades and test scores in history, English, civics, and other liberal arts. This crucial skill is developed outside the classroom and depends on the oral and written language the student encounters throughout the day.
27.
Why does the author include the chart on rare-word breakdown?
28.
What type of intelligence do visual media cultivate and what type of intelligence is minimized by intense use of visual media?
29.
The author believes that weak vocabulary experiences by teens who engage too much with screen media leads to poor reading comprehension and weak vocabulary writing used online by teens leads to ____________________________________.
30.
True or False: Instead of opening young people up to hoards of new knowledge, the internet instead has caused young people to obsessively focus on one another and themselves.

31.
What does the author mean when he says that the web,
“encourages more horizontal modeling” than vertical modeling. Is this a good or a bad thing?
32.
True or False: For young people, screen time is used more to develop intellectually than to develop socially.
33.
How does screen reading differ from book reading?
34.
What does the advice from Nielsen to Web designers show about web reading?
35.
Why does the author argue that having nearly unlimited screen choices is actually detrimental?
36.
The author argues that the “popular digital practices of teens” didn’t open up the world but instead _____________________.
37.
At the end of this chapter, the author criticizes teachers for not
____________________________________.
Chapter 5: The Betrayal of the Mentors
38.
How are programs like ArtShow different than traditional mentoring programs?
39.
Would you like to be a Twixter? Explain why.
40.
Do you agree or disagree with the observations and expert opinions from people like Poirier, Grafton, and Eisner?
41.
Do you agree with the notion that “teacher-centered instruction bores” students?
42.
How have the results from the Narcissistic Personality Inventory changed since 1982? What is causing this change and what does the author believe are the consequences?
43.
True or False: The highest academic scoring students around the world report to be happy and confident.

44.
The author argues that when the curriculum provides little connection between students’ lives and the classroom,
______________ should be blamed instead of the curriculum.
45.
What suggestions does the author make at the end of this chapter for improving the current situation of our youth?
Chapter 6: No More Culture Warriors
46.
Why does the author start the final chapter by retelling the story of
Rip Van Winkle?
47.
What does a healthy democracy need in order to survive successfully?
48.
Why are culture wars beneficial?
49.
Do you think that college campuses today are so different in terms of debates and discussions in the cafeteria than in the 1920’s and
1930’s? What is the cause of this?
50.
Do you agree with the author when he says that current college students focus so much on the here and now that colleges are not producing thoughtful intellectuals.
51.
According to the author, how does the intellectual future of the
United States look? Explain why he believes this and whether or not you agree with him.
52.
In one sentence, write down what you believe is Mark Bauerlein’s main argument in The Dumbest Generation.