Reading Journal
Your Reading Journal consists of reflective writing (not note-taking) based on the required readings for each course meeting. The Reading Journal is worth 25% of your final grade. Participation factors significantly into your Reading Journal grade.
For each READING JOURNAL entry, please include the following:
- Describe in a few sentences the main topic of the text (or, in the case of Long, the set of texts).
- Summarize one or two of the arguments made in the text that you find most interesting or useful.
- For readings from Long, note common themes for each section (i.e. “First Identifiers”, “The Brücke”, etc.). A separate entry for each reading is not required.
- Note one or more passages or quotations you find most interesting, and which may be useful to your written assignment.
- For texts from Long, please use citations from the original authors (rather than the explanatory notes or introduction).
OPTIONAL: For each CLASS MEETING please consider writing out one or more questions or ideas that you will be willing to share in class discussion.
There is no page requirement. Your Reading Journal may be in digital form. Be prepared to submit your Reading Journal with each written assignment.
In the event of an absence, your reading journal will be accepted WITHOUT a late penalty.
In addition to keeping a Reading Journal, each student must also post a comment on one of the Guiding Questions for one of the four units of the course. These comments must be 150-200 words in length. This component is worth 5-points (20%) of the Reading Journal grade. Please follow this link for further instruction, as well as the sign-up list.
These answers ideally will help you to engage with each other's thinking as you analyze course material and complete your written assignments.
No late comments will be accepted.