Once during the semester, each student will write a one-page review of an article or chapter that is related to our discussion for the week. These are readings that the rest of the class is not required to read (though all students are encouraged to read the review texts), so the person reviewing the text will serve as the resident expert on that text.
Reviewers will upload their one-page review to Canvas. The rest of the class will post comments, and the reviewer will respond to at least two of those questions.
Articles and chapters to be reviewed are listed on the schedule. Students interested in a particular reading that is not listed on the schedule are free to speak with me about reviewing an alternate text, though the review does need to fit with the topic for that week.
Reviews are limited to a single side of a sheet of paper. When providing feedback on reviews, I will be asking the following:
- Does the review follow the "rules of engagement" established for this class?
- Does the review offer a detailed summary of the argument that includes discussion of the author's field of study, the methods and theories they deploy, and a description of the evidence they use to support the argument?
- Does the review provide a discussion of how the author's argument relates to the topic of the class, other readings from class, and our discussions?
- Does the review observe the page limit?
- Is there evidence that the author has carefully written and revised?
- Did the reviewer observe the time limit during the informal presentation in class?
- Is there evidence that the reviewer planned their informal presentation?
