Notes on Reading Responses and comments

jtirrell's picture
Submitted by jtirrell on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 18:28

Now that we've had a couple of weeks to get our feet wet, Nathaniel and I want to make sure that everyone is comfortable with our expectations for Reading Responses and comments. All students should have received feedback from their instructor about their first Reading Response (Nathaniel and I both emailed ours). We have been very impressed with what we have seen so far. The conversations seem to be productive and developed. There are many examples of great conversations. Linked below are three example threads that we think serve as good models:

And just so we're all on the same page, we have compiled two separate bullet lists collecting the traits of successful Reading Responses and comments based on what we have observed:

    To produce successful Reading Responses:
  • Read the Principles of Reading Responses handout.
  • Post your Reading Response by the deadline.
  • Hit the Reading Response word count, which is 300 words unless otherwise indicated (word counts are a little arbitrary, but they encourage the kind of sustained attention that makes a good post).
  • Give your Reading Response a descriptive title instead of "Reading Response X." Foreshadow what your post addresses to generate interest.
  • Provide commentary in your Reading Response, not summary. We have all done the reading, so we don't need much summary. Instead, take the reading and make concrete, specific connections to your own experience inside and outside of class and our previous readings. Then turn your discussion to how this information shapes our current project or other coursework.
    To produce successful comments:
  • Read the Principles for Comments and Replies handout.
  • Make sure you do them! A few people seem to be posting Reading Responses but not posting comments.
  • Post all 5 of your comments by the deadline.
  • Hit the comment word count, which is 100 words unless otherwise indicated.
  • Give your comment a descriptive title instead of "Reply."
  • Don't just praise or complain in your comment. A good comment introduces new material. Its point is to contribute to and shape an ongoing conversation.

Feel free to contact your instructor with any specific questions. So far the conversations are very solid. Let's keep it up!