Where and when was it published?
Who wrote it? Do you know anything about this writer? How can you find out more?
Take a moment to open up a new tab (file>new tab) and do a quick internet search on the author. Share your findings in the comments section at the end of this post, then come back to the next question.
What is the subtitle of the post? What kind of clues does it give you about the content and tone of what you are about to read?
This post appears on salon.com, an online magazine that specializes in liberal politics, media, and opinion. What can you assume, then, about this blog post?
Now, catch up with the back story for this post by skimming over a news article on the subject, then come back.
When you read the blog post, you will need to know the following terms to understand the text:
age of consent
consensual
apologist
stigma
undisputed
Define these words and think about words that you know that sound similar to these words and may be related. When you've done this, you're ready to go back to the text for a first reading.
For the first time through, you should read to understand the text. Read as if you trust Harding, and focus on what she is trying to say. Is the article about what you thought it would be about? Does Harding say what you thought she would say?
What surprised you?
What does Harding want readers to believe?
What authorities does Harding use to support her case?
What action does she want to be taken?
