COMM 372 Reading Worksheets Weeks 2-6

Description

Reading Worksheets Instructions and Tips

Worksheets should be filled out to the best of your ability – you will have the opportunity to revise them
further for the portfolio. Answers should be substantive (100-300 words), justified through evidence and
argumentation, and use quotations directly from the reading (with page numbers).
Some tips:
• Use the universal rubric for guidance in what could make your answer better – completeness,
analysis, accuracy, evidence, and creativity/depth are what you should be aiming for
• Write through your thoughts as fully as possible – whenever you end a sentence, see if adding a
“because” and another sentence clause would make your answer better.
• Try to be generative and generous to the author(s)– see what you can learn from them and reserve
criticism for substantial disagreements (rather than just your taste in writing style).
• Longer answers are not necessarily better answers, but sometimes more explanation is necessary
• Use quotations strategically – don’t just plop them in the middle of a paragraph, try to explain
why you are using it, what your interpretation of it is, and what you think it shows
Some questions ask for discussion questions and comments. Discussion questions and comments should
be directed at peers (not the instructor) and build upon the readings. Discussion questions and comments
can target different aspects of the readings and how to extend them, such as:
• focusing on interpretations of specific quotations from the reading, ranging from phrases or
sections that you gained a lot from or that confused you and could need some clarification
• The methodology (way research and analysis is conducted), theory (how the reading approaches
the way the world works), case study/studies (the specific pieces of rhetoric analyzed), or
conclusion of the readings
• how the reading could connect to contemporary or historical events (although make sure to ask
something that could feasibly be answered in class)
• how the reading could be applied for practical uses in public/political arenas or for personal
judgment
• how the reading could connect to other readings either in this class or in other courses
• things that the reading brings to mind for you – this is more open ended
• Questions shouldn’t be either:
o a) be a yes-or-no question or
o b) a request for more historical or contextual facts that could be answered through use of
a search engine.