Before your group: Read the Putnam article, "Bowling Alone," and make a few notes or bring your underlined copy along to class.
In groups:
1. What is "social capital," and why is it important? How is society apt to be diminished by a decline in social capital?
2. Putnam says he is making "an empirical survey of trends in social capital in contemporary America." What is his evidence of the decline of social capital? Do you see any major flaws? What has any of this got to do with bowling?
3. What about countertrends? Are there any ways in which Americans are increasing their group affiliations and trust?
4. If you accept Putnam's evidence about the decline of social capital, what do you think are the causes of that decline? Consider the possibilities he considers, but add some more possibilities of your own.