Reading Notes

For this course, instead of quizzes, I require note-taking on the reading assignments so that you can demonstrate that you have done thorough reading of each work. Also, they will help you remember more of what you read, making you more confident during class discussions. When you come to class, please bring with you a substantial set of hand-written notes on standard notebook paper about the reading assignment on the calendar for that day.

Why?

• To stay focused as you read so you can recall ideas for class discussion.
• To record and remember specific details from your reading and create invaluable study materials for tests.
• To collect text selections for your Quote Responses.

To receive full credit when we have a reading assignment, you have to

1. Be in class to discuss the reading!
2. Fill more than one side of standard notebook paper with the assigned number of observations before class begins--these notes must show that you recorded observations throughout the reading assignment. Use the space wisely and completely--too much white space makes your notes incomplete. If you write "big," then you should adjust by filling additional pages. Your grade will depend on coverage, not just length.
3. Make a numbered list, counting up for each observation. Each numbered item should include three things, in this order:
   
   1. Paragraph number (use page numbers if pages are numbered; use line numbers for poems) of an interesting line or two of text
   2. Exact quote, in quotation marks, of your selection
   3. Your thought in response to that selection. Keep your thought brief but be specific, no more than a couple sentences.
4. When you record an observation, you must write down the paragraph number and then quote the exact text you've chosen. Then you provide a comment to let me know how you interpret that moment in the text. What does the author achieve in terms of character or meaning? When responding, you don't need complete sentences--you just have to express specific thoughts. If you write comments that are too long, your notes will take more time to write than I intend for this assignment.
5. The words you quote for each observation should create a significant experience of meaning for you, but that experience must be complex and thought provoking. If you settle for superficial, obvious comments, then you won't earn full credit. Look for examples of literary terms, imagery that seems packed with meaning, significant dialogue, expressions that point to compelling themes, raise questions, or highlight character dilemmas, conflicts, writing style features, etc. Collect a variety of observations. DO NOT summarize what you are reading; instead, select what is interesting and important to you, what you would bring up in class to discuss. Your notes must reflect that you read the ENTIRE assignment for that day. Your page numbers will help me see your coverage.
6. Make sure your notes are organized and readable. Write slowly enough to be legible--if I cannot follow your writing, I cannot give you credit for your ideas. Every single observation you record should be tied to a different quote from the work, so when you notice something interesting, number the observation, write the page number of the work, quote the selection from the text, and then provide your thought about it (be brief enough that you have room to make the assigned number of observations (check the calendar)). What does that selection show you? Why did you select it? Give your notes some structure so they are not just one big mass of words. Use underlining and boxes to emphasize and separate ideas, for instance. Your notes should show that you are thinking actively and making connections.
7. Put your name, date, title of work, and pages of the reading assignment at the top of the first page.
8. Turn these notes in at the beginning of class for me to evaluate.

The notes should not just be a summary of the story or a random list of points. This is not busy work, but a chance to show me your active engagement in the reading. The best sets of notes will show that you are responding to what you read, asking questions, noting significant moments, actively thinking. Remember, you are being graded on effort, so be sure that I can see your effort! Your notes are meant to prove that you responsibly read the entire assignment. It's better to have wider coverage than to write too much in response to any one selection.

Scoring Guide:

5 --> Everything for a 4, plus thoughtful, impressive, and invested
4 --> Good coverage, complete, all observations have a quote with a thought
3 --> Lacking coverage or length, sometimes missing quotes or thoughts
2 --> same as 3 but worse
1 --> same as 2 but worse