1. in contrast to what many older generations believe about texting, discuss mcwhorter's views on the subject. what does he think and why?

2. describe the similarities mcwhorter draws between speaking and texting.

3. explain how "lol" has evolved over the years.

4. discuss mcwhorter's purpose for drawing a connection between various individuals from various points in time (i. e. the professor, a schoolteacher, the president of harvard, a superintendent and a poor man, among others).

5. what is the last thing mcwhorter says he would want to know if he had the ability to go into the future? what would he do with this knowledge?

Read the excerpt from "the love song of j. alfred prufrock." and indeed there will be time to wonder, “do i dare? ” and, “do i dare? ” time to turn back and descend the stair, with a bald spot in the middle of my hair— [they will say: “how his hair is growing thin! ”] my morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin, my necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin— [they will say: “but how his arms and legs are thin! ”] do i dare disturb the universe? in a minute there is time for decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse. which lines indicate that the speaker is concerned about what others think of him?