For each of our readings, you will be required to use a tool called Hypothesis to highlight significant passages and to record observations about those passages. The goal here is to read together, to try to make sense of what we are reading in a collective way. Annotations are due by 9:00pm on the evening prior to the class meeting.This provides me with an opportunity to review your annotations before we meet.
Each annotation assignment is worth 1% of your grade, and these assignments are graded on a credit/no-credit basis. Hypothesis allows you to annotate certain passages and to record "page notes" (notes that apply to the entire reading). You may also find that you want to reply to another student's annotations. While I do not require any specific number of annotations or notes, I will be looking to see that you have put forth a good-faith effort to complete the assignment.
There are many ways to approach this method of collective annotation. Here's a guide developed by Dr. Nathaniel Rivers at St. Louis University, which presents some "do's" and "don'ts" of collaborative annotation. Annotations to our readings might do a number of things, including asking questions, pointing to another related source, connecting a reading to other readings in the class, or any other approach that you think might be useful to you and your classmates. Our goal is to read and think together, and we will also be discussing everyone's annotations together during class meetings.
As I look at your annotations and consider whether or not they deserve credit, I will be asking the following questions:
- Does your annotation demonstrate that you have read the entire assigned reading?
- Does your annotation demonstrate that you are considering what was posted previously and engaging in a conversation with the rest of the group?
- Does your annotation provide evidence that you've thought carefully about the reading and its relationship to our class discussions?
- Does your annotation demonstrate that you have put forth a good faith effort at completing the assignment?
