Reading Guide

  • We don’t have formal reading responses due in this course, but reading critically is a skill well worth your time to develop.
  • 40% of your grade is class engagement, which is way easier if you’re prepared to
    • to show me that you’ve read and thought critically about the reading
    • to help advance our discussion about the reading, its utility, and how it fits into the course

What to think about when you’re reading

Below are a list of themes and questions you should be asking yourself and comment on in your response. This is not an exhaustive or restrictive list!

Content

  • what is the main point or points?
  • what examples did the author(s) give to help make their point?
  • how does the reading support or contradict other readings?
  • where did you get stuck or confused? BE SPECIFIC?

Analysis

  • how convincing is the author(s)?
  • how well was the main point supported by evidence?
  • do you agree with the basic argument/conclusion?
  • what relevant topics are left out?

Style

  • who is the target audience? what does the author(s) think their audience knows?
  • was this relatively easy to read? what made it so? or not?
  • did the author make you want to keep reading to learn more? why or why not?