assignments ENGL493 Seminar in Writing and Writing Studies: Reading Journals
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READING JOURNALS
The requirements for reading journals is fairly straightforward. For every set of readings we do in our class, you are required to come to class with a reading journal that is two to three pages, double-spaced and typed. The content of your journal should be part summary and part analysis. I would suggest that, at the start of the semester, when you have less of an understanding of the field, you should spend more of your two to three pages on straight summary. Just knowing what the reading is about, just following the argument, will teach you a great deal. As you progress through the semester and have a better understanding of the field, you will spend more time on analysis--whether or not you agree with what the author or authors are arguing, what counter arguments you might make, where you think the argument is strong, where it seems to fall short, etc.
Please note that sometimes we are reading multiple authors for one class. You do not need to do multiple reading journals--one for each author. You do one reading journal, per class, per set of authors. But I do ask that you read and respond to all of the authors we read for one particular class. When we have more than one article to read, please spend roughly equal amounts of time on each article.
Reading Journals for a 400 level course should show serious engagement with the material we are reading. This is what I will look for and hope to comment on--your genuine engagement in the ideas. If your journals are too short too often--or too long for no real reason--I will notice this, and I will tell you, otherwise, consider my feedback non-evaluative. Comments, which at times might be plentiful, should be seen as me engaging in conversation with you about your ideas. Even if what I'm telling you is that you misread something, I'm still just having a conversation with you. On the other hand, if you have no comments, that means I'm bored. No comments is not a good thing. Reading journals make up 15 percent of your grade, which means not to take the assignment seriously will eliminate the possibility of earning an A for the class.
The requirements for reading journals is fairly straightforward. For every set of readings we do in our class, you are required to come to class with a reading journal that is two to three pages, double-spaced and typed. The content of your journal should be part summary and part analysis. I would suggest that, at the start of the semester, when you have less of an understanding of the field, you should spend more of your two to three pages on straight summary. Just knowing what the reading is about, just following the argument, will teach you a great deal. As you progress through the semester and have a better understanding of the field, you will spend more time on analysis--whether or not you agree with what the author or authors are arguing, what counter arguments you might make, where you think the argument is strong, where it seems to fall short, etc.
Please note that sometimes we are reading multiple authors for one class. You do not need to do multiple reading journals--one for each author. You do one reading journal, per class, per set of authors. But I do ask that you read and respond to all of the authors we read for one particular class. When we have more than one article to read, please spend roughly equal amounts of time on each article.
Reading Journals for a 400 level course should show serious engagement with the material we are reading. This is what I will look for and hope to comment on--your genuine engagement in the ideas. If your journals are too short too often--or too long for no real reason--I will notice this, and I will tell you, otherwise, consider my feedback non-evaluative. Comments, which at times might be plentiful, should be seen as me engaging in conversation with you about your ideas. Even if what I'm telling you is that you misread something, I'm still just having a conversation with you. On the other hand, if you have no comments, that means I'm bored. No comments is not a good thing. Reading journals make up 15 percent of your grade, which means not to take the assignment seriously will eliminate the possibility of earning an A for the class.
