What is the role of the Facilitator?
Each month we ask for a volunteer to facilitate discussion of the books: one volunteer for a
single month. The role of the facilitator is to help encourage discussion by means of the
facilitator posting his/her own comments or questions, and perhaps suggested discussion
points.
In addition to the volunteer facilitator, of course the moderator will also be helping to facilitate
every month's discussion as well.
The facilitator certainly does not have to be an expert on any of the books or history. The only
requirement is a willingness to commit sincerely to reading the books for that one month, and
to post a few emails about his/her impressions of the books.
The facilitator is not the list moderator or list owner. The role of the facilitator is not to control
discussion or moderate the discussion, only to help jump start discussion, and to help get fresh
perspective on the books.
Of course, discussion is not limited to only the facilitator. On the contrary, I hope every month
that everyone will contribute his/her comments or questions about every month's readings.
And anyone can comments on anything pertaining to western literature, or western history,
whether related to the facilitator's comments or not. You don't have to limit yourself to what the
facilitator has been writing about.
It is my hope, as moderator, that many different people will volunteer to facilitate for one month.
So don't be shy: volunteer to facilitate discussion for one month!
single month. The role of the facilitator is to help encourage discussion by means of the
facilitator posting his/her own comments or questions, and perhaps suggested discussion
points.
In addition to the volunteer facilitator, of course the moderator will also be helping to facilitate
every month's discussion as well.
The facilitator certainly does not have to be an expert on any of the books or history. The only
requirement is a willingness to commit sincerely to reading the books for that one month, and
to post a few emails about his/her impressions of the books.
The facilitator is not the list moderator or list owner. The role of the facilitator is not to control
discussion or moderate the discussion, only to help jump start discussion, and to help get fresh
perspective on the books.
Of course, discussion is not limited to only the facilitator. On the contrary, I hope every month
that everyone will contribute his/her comments or questions about every month's readings.
And anyone can comments on anything pertaining to western literature, or western history,
whether related to the facilitator's comments or not. You don't have to limit yourself to what the
facilitator has been writing about.
It is my hope, as moderator, that many different people will volunteer to facilitate for one month.
So don't be shy: volunteer to facilitate discussion for one month!
Q and A
Q: Can I volunteer for facilitator if I've never read the selected book before?
A: Yes, anyone can volunteer and be selected for facilitator.
Q: Can I be the moderator?
A: No, the moderator is different from the facilitator. The moderator is a semi-permanent
position held by the owner of the group. That's me.
Q: If I am not the facilitator, is it okay to post to the list?
A: Yes, of course, it is okay. Anyone can post an email to the list anytime, as long as you've
already subscribed to the group.
Q: If I am not the facilitator, is it okay to post questions or comments unrelated to what the
facilitator is discussing?
A: Yes, of course it is okay to post any comments or questions, even if unrelated to what the
facilitator is discussing.
Q: Who choses the facilitator?
A: The moderator-owner of the list asks for volunteers each month and selects volunteers on a
first come first serve basis.
Q: Can I volunteer for facilitator more than once?
A: Yes, of course!
Q: Do I have to read the book if I volunteer for facilitator?
A: Yes, when you volunteer for facilitator, you are making a commitment to volunteer to read
that month's books. You do *not* have to commit to read the other books scheduled for later
months or earlier months.
Q: I don't know anything about history or philosophy or literature. Can I volunteer for facilitator if
I don't know anything?
A: Yes, anyone can volunteer for facilitator if he/she is willing to simply read the book(s) of the
month and post impressions of the book(s) to the list.
Q: If I am facilitator, do I have to be able to answer other people's questions about the book?
A: No, you don't have to be able to answer other people's questions. Anyone can try to answer
anyone's questions, not just the facilitator.
Q: Can I volunteer for facilitator if I've never read the selected book before?
A: Yes, anyone can volunteer and be selected for facilitator.
Q: Can I be the moderator?
A: No, the moderator is different from the facilitator. The moderator is a semi-permanent
position held by the owner of the group. That's me.
Q: If I am not the facilitator, is it okay to post to the list?
A: Yes, of course, it is okay. Anyone can post an email to the list anytime, as long as you've
already subscribed to the group.
Q: If I am not the facilitator, is it okay to post questions or comments unrelated to what the
facilitator is discussing?
A: Yes, of course it is okay to post any comments or questions, even if unrelated to what the
facilitator is discussing.
Q: Who choses the facilitator?
A: The moderator-owner of the list asks for volunteers each month and selects volunteers on a
first come first serve basis.
Q: Can I volunteer for facilitator more than once?
A: Yes, of course!
Q: Do I have to read the book if I volunteer for facilitator?
A: Yes, when you volunteer for facilitator, you are making a commitment to volunteer to read
that month's books. You do *not* have to commit to read the other books scheduled for later
months or earlier months.
Q: I don't know anything about history or philosophy or literature. Can I volunteer for facilitator if
I don't know anything?
A: Yes, anyone can volunteer for facilitator if he/she is willing to simply read the book(s) of the
month and post impressions of the book(s) to the list.
Q: If I am facilitator, do I have to be able to answer other people's questions about the book?
A: No, you don't have to be able to answer other people's questions. Anyone can try to answer
anyone's questions, not just the facilitator.
The Great Conversation
reading group
reading group
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