ASSIGNMENT TO RESPOND TO A STUDENT COMMENT

Paper due in Corbett's email box: July 13th

Assignment # 11B

• ASSIGNMENT: Write a thoughtful response to ONE and only ONE of the assignments 11A posted by another student (formally registered student or visiting student). Be sure that you state your understanding of the thesis and argument, and then make your evaluative or engaging comment (criticism). Do not hesitate to disagree, even strongly, but ALWAYS remain fully respectful of the person, just assess the argument as presented by the other student. Be sure the response suggests some depth of thinking and analysis and write in critical thinking format of thesis statement followed by reasons and considerations for the thesis.

• PRE-WRITING TASKS:
  1. First read student's post all the way through with some care and reflect on it.
  2. If you have initial simple questions of understanding, e-mail THE STUDENT privately. (The student's e-mail address will be at the top of the post). The student is not obliged to reply, but this may often be helpful.

• WRITING THE ASSIGNMENT:
  1. Be sure to put your name and the number of the assignment at the top of every paper. See topic of this page for the number of this assignment. Also, please give the brief "name" of the assignment.
  2. Be sure your remarks reflect some depth of reading and thought.
  3. Make clear what it is you take the student to be saying. That is, analyze the claim you will evaluate. Then make your critical comment in a clear and civil fashion.
  4. Be sure that you carefully separate the analysis (which must come first) and the criticism (which is a criticism of what you have analysed in the first part).
  5. In the critical section be sure to use critical thinking format, with thesis and then reasons and other considerations which demonstrate the thesis is so.
  6. Avoid a chatty and informal response.
  7. Don't belabor the obvious and trivial. Focus on the specially interesting or puzzling.
  8. Use careful and acceptable standard English. Give attention to spelling, grammar and style. These will matter throughout the course. Caution: internet writing often suggests contrary writing habits, allowing much less attention to these matters. In this regard this assignment (and all others) are quite different than many internet writings.

     This is a class assignment at a university and norms of university level writing at every level will be expected.

• GRADING CRITERIAL I WILL USE:
  1. Does the paper reflect a careful reading of the student's post?
  2. Does it reflect some careful thought about the material commented upon?
  3. Is anlysis careful separated from criticism and are both parts there and accurate?
  4. Is the paper in critical thinking format?
  5. Does the paper escape the chatty light-weight form and get to serious criticism?
  6. Is the response done in a respectful and civil manner?
  7. Are grammar, punctuation, spelling problems minimal?
  8. Is the writing style free of confusion and awkwardness?

• THE GRADES THEMSELVES:
  • A grade of A will mean: Well-written reflective paper with few mechanical mistakes. Both the analysis and criticism of the student position are accurate and significant. All is expressed in clear and thoughtful language. The paper has depth, is in critical format and not in the style of polite chat.
  • A grade of B will mean: Well-written and reflective paper, but without the significant edge of revealing depth of thought and attention to detail of expression (writing). Or the paper fails in following critical format with rigor and tends to fall to chatty style.
  • A grade of C will mean: Paper does what is asked and all parts are there. The paper suggests an adequate attention to the reading of the student post, but doesn't reflect a significant depth of thought or expression of that thought. Or the paper may not be fully accurate on the analysis or criticism. Or the paper may fall too far below the standard of critical thinking format. Or paper may contain too many lapses of mechanics and style.
  • A grade of D will mean: Paper falls short of an adequate university level response to the assignment. This may be in fulfillment of the content or in more serious problems with mechanics and style.
  • A grade of F may mean anyone of three things:
    1. Not turned in at all.
    2. Not turned in on time.
    3. Significant failures to meet the assignment at the level of reasonable university level expectations of thought, attention to detail, attention to reading or expression. (specifics will be pointed out).
  • NO ASSIGNMENT MAY BE REWRITTEN FOR HIGHER CREDIT.  You are welcome to rewrite them to improve them, and I will happily comment on them. But the original grade will remain as it was on the first and only graded attempt.

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