3. Conversation Starter 1
• My major is medical chemistry. I have participated in
numerous chemistry experiments. Before I conduct these
experiments, I must consider all of the possible
contingencies such as the experimental security, the
experimental conditions, and the experimental process.
So, have you ever conducted any experiments? How did
you prepare these activities? (medical chemistry,
Zhicheng Yu)
4. Conversation Starter 2
• Have you ever published a scientific article? If so, what
was the topic about? Did you follow the scientific method?
If not, what would you like to publish about?
(Engineering) (Adriano)
5. Conversation Starter 3
• Giving effective feedback is a vital part of communication
between a manager and employer in company, whether
inside or outside the workplace. The purpose of giving
feedback to someone is not to change them, but rather to
help them to initiate change. Do you have any tips for
giving effective feedback as a manager? (Business)
(SungJun)
6. Describing Data
• Try it out! (bottled water sales)
• Climbed steadily
• Fell steadily
• Steep rise
• Slight dip
• Fluctuated wildly
• Fluctuated slightly
• Plunged
• Rose steadily
• Declined slightly
• Remained steady
• Increased dramatically
• Fell dramatically
• Were stable
• Declined gradually
12. Comprehension Questions
• 1. What does Johnson think about innovation in the 20th
century? What specific example of this phenomenon is
provided?
• 2. Johnson argues that an idea “isn’t a single thing.”
What does that mean? How is that illustrated with the
World Wide Web example?
• 3. What is “bricolage”? How does the Gutenberg example
illustrate this term?
13. Comprehension Questions
• 4. What does it mean that society is “in love with this idea
of the solitary inventor”? What does Johnson think is
“much more interesting” than the single inventor idea?
• 5. According to Johnson, what kind of collaborators work
particularly well together? Why do you think this is the
case?
• 6. Why does Johnson say that “you cannot invent a
microwave in 1650”? What is the point he is trying to
make?
14. Comprehension Questions
• 7. What is a “hunch”? What is a “slow hunch”? Why does
Johnson think that slow hunches are particularly important
for innovation?
15. HW
• Pgs. 90-92
• Conversation starter on the blog by 10/21 at midnight
• Read the Group Presentation Handouts
• PSU Interview Project – Due 10/24 (Box)
• Group Speaking Task 3 Comments – 10/26 by midnight
