7/28/2019 Enc 3331 Reading Journal

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Wolcott ENC 3331Note to ENC 3331 students: this is a very structured description of the reading journal. I think it is useful if

you are not sure about where to start. However, feel free to modify this to fit your needs; just make surethat you are recording your thoughts and analysis as you do the reading journal.

Reading JournalYou will read a series of selections in this class. Some will be difficult because of new terms and concepts,and some may be challenging in other waysthinking from new perspectives, or topics or ideas that maybe emotional. To help you read, think, and recall, I would like for you to keep a journal as you read. Foreach article, I expect a response that summarizes, criticizes, and responds to the article you have read.

You will get better at this as the semester progresses. You might start by summarizing and noting places ofconfusion, questions, or observations that you have. As we move forward, your summaries and analysiswill probably become more concise and more complex; in fact, I expect that.

Purpose: The reading journal will allow you to record your responses to readings assigned in class. It willalso give you practice in condensing and remembering information you have read as you begin to build asynthesis of ideas about writing. The journal will also give you daily practice in writing MLA citations.Instructions/ Format:Paper journals should may be handwritten but should be contained in a single folder or notebook. Digital

journals should be contained in a single file or folder, with each entry clearly labeled. On the left hand sideof the journal entry, begin with an MLA-style citation for the source. Then, write a brief 2 paragraphsummary of the article. Then, on the right hand side of the entry, write your analysis of the article. We willtalk in class about what analysis means, but this is your chance to respond to the article. Please label your

journals with your name, class title (ENC 3331), class time, and section number before turning them in forgrading.

Summary AnalysisList the MLA citation on the first line.

Then, in 150-300 words, brieflydescribe what the article is about.

Be sure to accurately list the MLAcitation. This will save you valuabletime later in the semester whencompiling your annotatedbibliography.

Across from the summary, put thedate.

Then, make connections between classdiscussions, personal experience, orother secondary sources. Your reading

journal would also be an appropriateplace to agree or disagree, askquestions, note what might beconfusing or interesting to you, andthink about why we might be readingthis article in a first-year writing class(in other words how is this meaningfulto you as a writer?)

How many entries must I have?You should have an entry for each reading we do in class or for homework.

How you are Evaluated:This reading journal will function as a recording of your thoughts and reflections about the readingswe cover in the class. Entries and the collection as a whole will be evaluated using the followingquestions:Are citations complete? Do they follow MLA style?Are responses thorough and well thought out?

Have you begun to think about how ideas between articles are related, and how these scholars areparticipating in a dialogue? Are you making beginning moves in your analysis to also dialogue(respond, engage in conversation) with the scholars you are reading?

Due Date:The reading log should be kept updated throughout the semester. There will be journal checksduring the semester where I collect, grade, then return your journals to date, and the journal will beincorporated into your participation grade.Note:I am more interested in your thoughts as you read here, and less interested in you spending time worryingabout sentence construction, spelling, or mechanics. There will be plenty of time to worry about surface-level writing issues on your major papers; don't spend too much time editing your reading journal. I willonly grade for content.