Reaction Papers

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Reaction Papers

Objectives

Course readings present an important and necessary supplement to our lectures and discussions. This assignment aims to help you develop greater understandings on course materials by seriously and intellectually engaging with these reading materials. Specifically, this assignment requires you to:

· Read and reflect on readings prior to class;

· Review and critique scholarly writings;

· Bring the required readings into dialogue with other course materials;

· Summarize and present your thoughts and opinions;

· Facilitate coherent and focused discussions.

General Guidelines

Throughout the course of our class, you will write two 2-page reaction papers to two different course readings picked by you. Each reaction paper is about 800 words in length (2 pages, double-spaced, 1 inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font). As such, you will have different due dates for your reaction papers. Students who write the reaction papers for the next day’s lecture will also take the lead in facilitating class discussions. Each discussion leader will prepare at least two questions for other students to engage with.

Reaction Paper Guidelines:

§ Overall Thesis: Introduce the overall topic of the article.

o Example: The article is about…; The general question is….

§ Context: Describe the specific context within which the study is based. This could be a debate or a gap in previous studies, a historical or recent event, and a topic from lecture.

o Example: The study is based on the context of XXX; The topic is related to lecture discussions on XXX.

§ Main Arguments: Summarize the general themes, key points and arguments in the article. You should also present the evidences and examples used by the author(s) in order to explain how and why the author(s) come to the conclusions.

§ Critiques: Discuss your opinion and evaluation of the work’s strengths and/or shortcomings. These could be about the topic, the arguments and the examples.

o Example: The article contributes to my understanding on XXX; The arguments are (not) well-presented because XXX; There are flaws/ contradictions/ constraints in the argument as XXX.

§ Conclusion: End the paper by making a final statement about the reading and your evaluation.

§ Questions for Class Discussions: At the end of your reaction papers, use a separate section to include at least two questions for the class to discuss. In order to facilitate coherent and focused discussions in class, consider the following aspects when you prepare discussion questions: What are the most important contributions of the reading? What are the most controversial issues or debates presented and/or provoked by the author(s)? how do the texts relate to previous course materials we have already discussed? How could my questions help further the intellectual developments on topics related to next day’s class?

Format:

§ 2 pages long

§ Double-spaced

§ 1 inch margins

§ 12-point Times New Roman font

Lead class discussions. Bring your questions to the class. Each day, I will use 15-20 minutes for discussions on course readings. Students who write the reaction papers for that day’s reading will lead group discussions by: (1) presenting some brief summary of the reading to refresh people’s memories and to help orient the discussion; (2) using your prepared questions to guide other students to think further on certain aspects of the issue discussed in that day’s lecture. You should assume that everyone in the class has completed the readings, and thus your discussion should not consist of a long and elaborate overview of the required readings. Instead, your discussion should bring the required readings into dialogue with other course materials and/or outside issues of your choice. I expect that you relish the opportunity to be creative and, ideally, find a way to apply the required readings to a topic that is of particular interest to you.

Grading Rubric

Overall Organization	Proper introduction and conclusion	5 points
	Identification of the overall thesis	5 points
	Identification of the context	5 points
Explanation of Main Arguments	Summarize the key points and arguments	10 points
	Present the evidences and examples used by the author(s)	10 points
Critiques	Evaluate the contribution(s) of the study	5 points
	Analyze the strengths and/or shortcomings	5 points
	Provide at least two questions for class discussion	5 points
Total	50 points