You will be asked to complete 6 critical reading/viewing and reflective response assignments. Each assignment is worth 5% of your final grade, making up 30% of your total grade in this course.

For each assignment, you will be asked to either annotate the text or make notes on the viewing (worth 2.5% of each assignment) AND to respond reflectively in writing to assigned prompts (worth 2.5% of each assignment).

Critical Reading -- Annotation (2.5% per annotated reading)

One of the major goals of the course is for you to improve your ability to read critically. To help you achieve this goal, follow the steps below for each assigned reading.

Print out the assigned reading(s) and read through it once. Then, read through it again, and ANNOTATE it. Annotation means marking the text - using a pen/pencil and highlighter.

What annotations to make?

1. Highlight important terms/concepts, and write brief explanation next to each.

2. Briefly summarize main/key concepts in the margins.

3. Ask questions in the margins on anything that comes to mind as you read.

4. Write down connections you make to the text in the margins, relating anything in the text to your own life or other contexts.

5. Write down opinions/reactions in the margins, to any ideas in the text.

Critical Viewing -- Notes (2.5% per viewing)

One of the major goals of the course is for you to improve your ability to view critically. To help you achieve this goal, follow the steps below for each assigned viewing.

Watch the viewing and TAKE NOTES on it.

What notes to make?

1. Identify important terms/concepts, and write brief explanation next to each.

2. Briefly summarize main/key concepts as you go.

3. Ask questions on anything that comes to mind as you view.

4. Write down connections you make to the viewing, relating anything in the viewing to your own life or other contexts.

5. Write down opinions/reactions to any ideas in the viewing.

Critical Reflective Response (2.5% for each reflection)

Using your text annotations or viewing notes, you will be asked to write a response to the text or viewing of minimum 250 words. This may sometimes be done as in-class writing or sometimes as homework. You will be provided with prompts to help you focus and deepen your response.

All responses must be submitted to Turnitin.com by the date/time specified. You will be graded on your ability to:

• Identify important concepts/questions in the reading/viewing that are relevant to the prompts provided
• Critically analyze the reading/viewing, providing evidence (explanations, examples) to support your analysis
• Personalize your response, bringing in connections to your own life, making it unique, genuine and meaningful
• Express yourself coherently, using strong voice and appropriate academic language and style and demonstrating audience awareness.

Grading Rubric

View the grading rubric below to make sure you understand how you will be graded.