[ a double reading of a text]

1. Read the first time to get an idea of the

main ideas and points
2. Read the 2nd time with three points in mind
a. what are the texts silences )what doesnt
the author talk about?
b. de-construction: look for the stated or implied
binaries, circularities, contradictions
c. genealogy-a tracing of the main ideas, their
derivation-looking for the lost field of memory
looking for a counter memory
 THE FUNCTION OF A BINARY
objective subjective
truth non-truth (false)
science non-science

to pre-shape the discourse, casting the alternative usually

in unfavorable terms (the first term in a binary is the privileged
one) used this way a binary is a meta imposition in a discourse
to create a categorical system which is not grounded empirically
but may be used to pre-judge empirical data-thereby limiting
the identification of alternatives
to bias a conversation to suit the one who imposed the binary
 to avoid defining a term that
may contradict a favored
definition (intelligence is whatever
an intelligence test measures.
functions as a kind of binary, to keep arguments or counter-
arguments in category and to diminish the power of a
counter factual which would challenge the initial premises
of a line of argument
to present tautologies as original arguments (statements
true by definition) or to avoid having tautologies identified
as such
 a statement made in one place that is nullified by a
statement made somewhere else
shows a writer has not extended his/her line of
argument far enough to see that it may not support
counter factuals-(a contradiction is a counter factual
embedded in your own line of argument)
can discredit a line of argument by breaking off
a possible conclusion
 A History
of
SEX

-That mitochondrial DNA and XY DNA should vary

equally, but they dont--one explanation is that fewer men
arehaving sex with more women which explains the DNA
lines which are at the base of the research.
SILENCES-
1. Looked at only three cultures
2. What about people who had sex but didnt produce
children
3. Does it imply that half the men in history have been
celebate
4. Women who want to have children
5. The Y chromosome? Absence of data.
BINARIES
1. Monogamy vs. promiscuity (females not as promiscious as men
2. Natural equated with animal vs. unatural
3. Choosy vs. not choosy
4. Mitochrondial vs. Y chromosome
CIRCULARITIES
1. Less men procreate but their genes go farther
2. In most species males want to be more promiscous than females,
(homo sapies not most species)
3. Natural is to be more animal like.
4. How they are defining modern, culture, what suits them to
make their point
CONTRADICTION
1. 70% of modern cultures the women move from her native village to her
husbands. Why is the mens DNA moving farther?