Exploring the Text

1. Robert D. Putnam opens with consideration of suicide. Why does he use suicide, perhaps the most profound expression of isolation, as a way to introduce an analysis of social connectedness?

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   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: Robert D. Putnam opens with consideration of suicide. Why does he use suicide, perhaps the most profound expression of isolation, as a way to introduce an analysis of social connectedness?
2. What is the purpose of Note 1 from the perspective of both the audience and the author?

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   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: What is the purpose of Note 1 from the perspective of both the audience and the author?
3. What theories does Putnam review to explain the positive effects of social connectedness and the negative effects of its absence?

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   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: What theories does Putnam review to explain the positive effects of social connectedness and the negative effects of its absence?
4. What evidence do the Notes present to support Putnam’s claim that Lisa Berkman is “one of the leading researchers in the field” (para. 5)?

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   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: What evidence do the Notes present to support Putnam’s claim that Lisa Berkman is “one of the leading researchers in the field” (para. 5)?
5. What evidence does Putnam provide in his discussion of the “astonishingly strong relationship between poor health and low social capital” (para. 7)?

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   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: What evidence does Putnam provide in his discussion of the “astonishingly strong relationship between poor health and low social capital” (para. 7)?
6. Putnam discusses at length a classic study of the Italian American community in Roseto, Pennsylvania (para. 8). What have researchers learned from this example?

   Question

   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: Putnam discusses at length a classic study of the Italian American community in Roseto, Pennsylvania (para. 8). What have researchers learned from this example?
7. In this chapter, Putnam uses several graphs and charts. Discuss how they function in presenting his arguments—that is, do they add information that is not in the written text, do they confirm it, do they expand on it? Consider each individually.

   Question

   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: In this chapter, Putnam uses several graphs and charts. Discuss how they function in presenting his arguments—that is, do they add information that is not in the written text, do they confirm it, do they expand on it? Consider each individually.
8. What is the causal relationship between marriage and happiness? Between education and happiness? Between money and happiness? Which, according to Putnam, is strongest? What evidence does he provide?

   Question

   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: What is the causal relationship between marriage and happiness? Between education and happiness? Between money and happiness? Which, according to Putnam, is strongest? What evidence does he provide?
9. Does Putnam’s allusion to the musical group the Beatles and his quotation from one of their famous songs (para. 20) strike you as out of place or a welcome lighter note? Is it effective or ineffective in the context of this essay?

   Question

   uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

   Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: Does Putnam’s allusion to the musical group the Beatles and his quotation from one of their famous songs (para. 20) strike you as out of place or a welcome lighter note? Is it effective or ineffective in the context of this essay?
10. Select three sequential paragraphs at random for analysis. Look at the syntax, diction, and point of view. What rhetorical strategies does Putnam use to make technical and specialized research accessible to a more general audience?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

    Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: Select three sequential paragraphs at random for analysis. Look at the syntax, diction, and point of view. What rhetorical strategies does Putnam use to make technical and specialized research accessible to a more general audience?
11. After looking over all of Putnam’s notes for this chapter, classify them into three or four different purposes. Specifically, how do these notes complement the written and visual text in the chapter without interrupting the flow of the analysis?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

    Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: After looking over all of Putnam’s notes for this chapter, classify them into three or four different purposes. Specifically, how do these notes complement the written and visual text in the chapter without interrupting the flow of the analysis?
12. Discuss why you agree or disagree with the position of psychologist Martin Seligman, as described by Putnam: “more of us are feeling down because modern society encourages a belief in personal control and autonomy more than a commitment to duty and common enterprise” (para. 22).

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

    Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: Discuss why you agree or disagree with the position of psychologist Martin Seligman, as described by Putnam: “more of us are feeling down because modern society encourages a belief in personal control and autonomy more than a commitment to duty and common enterprise” (para. 22).
13. If you were asked to develop a series of suggestions to the area where you live for a “healthier environment” based on Putnam’s research, what would you recommend?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

    Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: If you were asked to develop a series of suggestions to the area where you live for a “healthier environment” based on Putnam’s research, what would you recommend?
14. Identify one or two of the ways people establish social connectedness—for example, by belonging to an organized religion, volunteering, participating in associations, spending time with friends. What role(s) do you think social media might play in increasing social capital?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7

    Chapter 6 - Health and Happiness - Exploring the Text: Identify one or two of the ways people establish social connectedness—for example, by belonging to an organized religion, volunteering, participating in associations, spending time with friends. What role(s) do you think social media might play in increasing social capital?