writing about ethical

Making Sense of Scholarly Readings

Are you having difficulty with any of the course readings?

Dig in rather than giving up! Many students get frustrated with trying to decipher

some of the more difficult academic readings. Perhaps to help you, ​think of reading the text chapters, excerpts, and articles as a kind of intellectual

"weight lifting." You should have the same experience of resistance (and the same

feeling of satisfied exhaustion) after a workout with the readings as you do after a

workout at the gym lifting weights. Otherwise, you are not growing in your

comprehension or ability. If we only choose to read (or do) what is easy for us, are we

ever challenging ourselves to grow in our understanding?

Some helpful hints:

1. For longer readings, ​skim for main points. ​Use a marker or annotation tool to highlight things that make sense to you and you feel are important. Place a question

mark next to areas you feel may be important, but do not quite understand or are

confused by.

2. ​Use the buddy system. ​Join forces and connect with a classmate (or several) and work through the readings. Take turns asking questions about things you do not

understand. If you don't understand something, maybe someone else does and can

help explain it to you. And odds are, there are points you can help clarify for others

who just don't get it!

3. ​Actively participate in class! Participation in class discussions is a great way to help understand the readings and to gather significant points. It also allows you the

opportunity to get your questions answered-- from classmates and your instructor.

4. ​Post your questions to the forum on our course website. I have created a "Questions?" discussion forum on Canvas to help get answers to simple questions as

well as those that may be more complex. You can use this as an ongoing forum

throughout the semester to present any questions you have or clarifications you

need. Simple or complex, there is no such thing as a silly question! If you don't

understand something, odds are you are not alone. By posting your questions, we can

try to answer them as a group. Input is always welcome from others, so feel free to

respond to a classmate's question with feedback, suggestions, or brilliant ideas. Go

ahead and reply to your classmates' questions if you feel you can share some insight.

Through collaboration efforts such as this, questions not only get addressed, but we

all can find value in exploring issues and learning together as a group.

5. ​Ask early. Don't wait. If you don't understand something, seek answers before they build up and your interest and motivation deteriorate because things begin to

seem insurmountable. Email your instructor with your questions. I am always happy

to help!