Reading notes are essential for reviewing what aspects of the literature you found most interesting, inspiring, insightful, confusing, flawed, or outdated. Reading notes are due at the start of each class session and will be peer-reviewed, assessed, and then shared amongst the learning community.
What about the text(s) imitate life, instruct its readers, or delight/thrill its audiences? Can you identify a thematic concept, a thematic statement, and provide evidence? Are there current events or historical/cultural contexts to consider when interpreting?
The most fundamental objective of your reading notes is that they document – on one single sheet of paper – not only what you noticed while reading, but what you found most interesting, inspiring, insightful, confusing, flawed, and/or outdated. Why? Unpack these thoughts and emotions and, rather than attempting to cover everything you’ve read, choose one or two specific aspects of the reading and focus on them alone. Make meaning in your notes. Present questions. Provide insights. Share your collective reading experience in a manner conducive to class-wide discussion and engagement. Consider these reading notes a way of initiating a conversation with your classmates and me, your instructor, about specific aspects of the text.
These reading notes, while documenting your own experiences, insights, and arguments, are for all students to read and review. Again, your reading notes will be read and assessed by your fellow classmates. And always, ALWAYS, provide supporting evidence from the text.
This week your reading notes will be on Chapters 3 and 4 in A Visit From the Goon Squad. Please submit a full page of notes and observations on these chapters, along with your songs to go with each chapter.