BEFORE YOU WATCH: Production and Distribution Frame

Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.

By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:

The video starts with a saying we believe emerged from Chinese society several hundred years ago. What does this saying suggest about some values common to that society in that period?
Why is it important to start a frame story about production and distribution with the environment?
According to the video, what was the first system of production and distribution like?
What are the two biggest changes in production and distribution in human history, according to the video. Which of these transformations occurred in the period covered in this course?
Have production and distribution grown consistently, over the course of human history?
According to this video, how have our systems of production and distribution changed recently?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.

At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:

Look around you. Of the things you see, how many of them were made by humans? Now, just think about the things you’re touching—your clothes and personal items. How many of them do you know how to make? Do you know where they were made or where the raw materials needed to produce them came from?
The video makes the point that production and distribution has generally increased over time but has also contracted in different places at different times. What kinds of evidence would help you identify periods when global production and distribution decreased?

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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Aiden
Posted 9 months ago. Direct link to Aiden's post “what does it mean we came...”
what does it mean we came from a Chinese society??
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panamtuff
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