MEMO GUIDELINES
In order to ensure comprehension of the readings, improve the quality of class conversations, and prepare you for the assignments, you will write weekly memos of 300-500 words and post them to BlackBoard. I will provide reading questions, which you will use as guidelines for identifying and analyzing the principal arguments of that week’s readings.
Memos are due by 9:00 AM on Mondays and must be posted to the course BlackBoard site.
Memos should include at least these four central elements*:
a) A brief summary of the text(s). This summary should be only 2-3 sentences; use this “Tips for Summary” guide.
b) An engagement with main argument(s) of the texts. This engagement should identify the argument(s) and the evidence the authors use to defend their arguments. A satisfactory memo will demonstrate engagement with the texts by explaining the arguments in your own words using clear and precise language. An excellent memo will engage the reading questions and/or connect that week's texts to others we've read. See this critical reading guide from Colorado State University.
c) A brief discussion of what you found interesting, intriguing, or puzzling about the text. You must take a stance and back it up with reasons and/or evidence. You may also pose a question and/or provide an example (video clip, piece of music, news item, etc.) that will help advance our understandings of the texts and forward our class discussions.
d) Properly formatted citations for the sources you reference in your memo. All sources must be properly documented with in-text citations and a works cited list, using the Chicago Manual of Style "Author-Date" citation format.
*note: this list may be expanded over the course of the semester
Consult these model memos to use as a guide for writing an effective memo.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
We will use the "Journals" feature of Bb to post and grade memos. Navigate to the "Memos" section of Bb and find the appropriate memo number and due date. Post your memo directly into the textbox. You may either compose your memo directly in the textbox or cut and paste your memo from a file. Do NOT upload a file to Bb.
EVALUATION
I'll be grading your memos using this rubric. Remember that you have the option of revising one of your memos to improve your grade.