Class facilitation:
Raise questions, challenge the author and synthesize the readings. submit a written assignment that outlines your reading/chapter/article and offers 5 questions that interrogate the reading. i will provide screenshots of the Chapter i am specifally working on.
Here are some suggestions/guidelines for approaching the readings (Your assignment MUST HAVE both parts):
Write a one page written reaction to the readings. These written reactions will keep students’ focus on the most crucial aspects of the readings and will facilitate your study for the final exam. The questions that you submit should be questions about the readings, but you can also relate them to current media events/texts when appropriate. These are not “What did so and so say about…” but “What does it mean with regard to…” kinds of questions. In other words the questions should provoke critical thinking.
Guidelines: Consider these suggestions in writing/preparing for your class facilitation.
Central Idea of the reading:
A careful articulation of concepts and claims. Ask yourself if you have really defended the idea, or just asserted it.
Careful use of the reading/chapter as evidence. This means citing page numbers whenever you quote a text or even when you get an idea (paraphrase) from the text. If the author talks about the quotes or paraphrased idea in more than one place, make sure to note this too. Since you primarily are using a reader from class, identify the author and use internal references (i.e., Said, p. 254).
This class facilitation calls for your own critical interpretation of the chapters we are reading in class. Better class facilitations/papers are not polemical (a one-sided argument that disregards competing evidence in attempting to prove your point). Instead, write responses that take into account differing perspectives and ambiguity and then make arguments that take these things into account.
Writing:
A better essay displays care in its self-presentation (spelling, style, etc.) and also elegance in its writing. Take some time to construct the phrases and words that you choose. Often how you state something is just as important as what you are stating or considering. In sum, read carefully, exercise your intelligence, test your powers of argument and comprehension, try out some original claims and work on your ability to fine tune analysis.
SPECIFIC GRADING CRITERIA
The essay highlights major theoretical and methodological concepts (10 pts).
The essay demonstrates understanding of theory and ability to apply it (10 pts).
Utilizes almost entirely original material, offers examples to illustrate theory, and cites non-original material when used (10 pts).
Careful use of texts as evidence; follows MLA format (10 pts).
The response displays care in its self-presentation (spelling, style, etc.) and also elegance in its writing. Points will be taken off for each grammatical error, unclear or awkward sentence (10) pts.
