Logistics: Getting to know each other

Class 1: 

Logistics, Key Philosophy, Mistakes, and 

Homework

by Valera Arakelyan

Logistics: Getting to know each other

You can either re-post your introduction from the main chat or post a new 

intro in the comments section under the post.

 

Logistics: Discussion Groups

We will regularly send you discussion questions to discuss with your peers. 

Under this post, send us a few time slots (in Tashkent time) when you are 

available on Monday and Wednesday and message people who are free at 

the same time with you.

Logistics 

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Study plan for the month (Word file):

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Educational goals 

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Photo of a schedule that includes classes and homework 

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Study journals (answer these 3 questions every sunday and 

submit them): 

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What have I learned in the last week?

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What did I like about my study approach?

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What can be further improved? 

Key Philosophy

Our main goal in this module is to make you read more and read 

more effectively. You will be exposed to the kind of literature that 

SAT test-makers use to produce their tests: Undergraduate-level, 

Often Historical, and Americentric. I will not be surprised that the 

main book that we will be focusing on for the next month will serve 

as a source for the SAT test one day.

Stages of Confronting a Challenging Reading:

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Stage 1: That’s bullsh*t!

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Stage 2: It is super tough, but I am figuring it out. 

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Stage 3: There are a few interesting points after all. 

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Stage 4: The author is a genius! 

The most effective study approach

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Take notes and re-visit difficult concepts 

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Extensively learn new vocabulary

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Find pleasure in reading 

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Conceptualize reading in a way that excites you 

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Don’t forget about the pragmatic goal of improving your SAT score 

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Analyze your mistakes

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Use resources that are available to you

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Distance yourself from the flawed understanding of education that is 

often widely popular in our localities 

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Connect ideas and insights across modules 

What SAT exam actually tests you on?

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SAT tests your ability to survive the academic pressures of the 

American campuses 

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Think of your SAT preparation as your crash course to studying in the 

US, not as another test that you need to take 

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Our approach will reverse engineer the preparation process where we 

expose you to typical undergraduate-level workload and, in this way, 

get you prepared for the SAT. 

Prioritizing different sections in your preparation

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First, Math ...

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Then, Writing … 

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And only then, Reading …  

Your Warm-up Homework 

My Estimations 

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If you got between 9-11 correct, this module will be hard for you. 

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If you got 6-8, it will be extremely hard. 

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Below 6 - you will struggle!  

Our Main Reading

Alexis De Tocqueville

“Democracy in America”

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We will learn about terms and 

concepts like the tyranny of the 

majority, universal suffrage, principles 

of democracy. 

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One of the foundational readings in 

American political philosophy

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You will learn a lot about the roots of 

certain American norms and ways of 

life. 

Translator’s Note: 10 mins

Discussion Questions: 

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What two opposite goals does the translator attempt to balance? 

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Why was it “untenable” to closely follow the author’s sentence 

structure?

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What is a “rigid consistency”? Why does the translator call it a 

trap?