Okay. So I’ve been thinking a lot about how to keep the course going under present circumstances. I like the Qualtrics discussion question set-up – – but it is proving very inefficient and not very comprehensive. That being said – – here is the final arrangement that I’ve settled on (with one possible change – – see very end):
We’ll keep reading our way through the syllabus – – there’s so much good stuff that is profitable and pleasurable to read.
The reading journal. Instead of answering discussion questions for each class, you’ll keep a reading journal for each text we read.
What is a reading journal? A reading journal is a place where you record your responses to a text – – where you explore questions, try figure out puzzling things about a text, begin to develop your ideas about what a text means or what the significance of a text.
How is this reading journal thing going to work?
Every Thursday, I’ll put up a blog post that offers some general reflections about a text and includes some broad questions. This is simply designed to give you some seeds/provocations as you read/make your way through the text.
You’ll have one week after that first blog post to create an entry in your reading journal. The entry should be at least five hundred (500) words.
Use the journal entry to describe and reflect on your response to the text. It’s good to focus on a some particular things in the text – – an image, character, line, poem, plot event, etc. Or, to focus on a particular question about the text that nags at you. (I’m not going to be grading your journal for correctness – – but do your best to make the entry as readable as possible.)
Your journal entry will be a google doc. You’ll need to create this doc and title it: “English 602 Reading Journal: [your name].” You’ll also need to share this doc with me. (Here’s how to share a google doc.) Use my gmail address to share the doc: profhanley@gmail.com. When you set up sharing make sure that you allow me to comment on the doc – -i.e. click on the “Can comment” option in the sharing window.
One week after the first blog post, I’ll start browsing through your journals. I’ll comment – – but this will not be evaluative commentary, simply my response. I’ll mark your reading journal complete for that week.
Towards the end of the semester, I’ll ask you to write a longer, more formal reflection piece. This will not be a critical or analytical essay. Instead, think of it as a reflection on your reading journals.
Now, if you’ve made it this far: I’m pretty concerned that we’re rapidly losing any real interaction within/around the course. Maybe Facebook can help to solve this? Help me out by answering the poll below.
Questions? Email me.