Reading Response Exercise

Choose any three passages you think are significant from the original texts we will have read and discussed so far (The German Ideology, "Letter to Annenkov," or the 1859 "Preface" to the Critique of Political Economy). Choose ones that you believe are particularly important or relevant for understanding the central arguments presented in the work as a whole or for understanding Marx's theory of historical materialism.

For EACH of these three statements, follow the three steps below:

Step 1: Copy the statement verbatim.

Step 2: Interpret the passage by paraphrasing the statement. Using your own words, say exactly what Marx is trying to say in this passage.

Step 3: Reflect on the passage by indicating how it fits into the larger work or overall argument Marx is making in the work where this passage appears. What issues does it raise? Include why you find this passage important for understanding Marx's ideas in general.