Winters Bone by Daniel Woodrell

Reader Reflections

“What is the purpose of a Reader Reflection?”

Writing promotes learning and thinking. The reader reflections in this class are tools to help you think more about the content of the course and, as a result, learn more.

“To what will I respond?”

The entries will be responses to readings in the course. You will react to the readings during the week they are discussed in class. In face-to-face classes, the reflections are due the day we will discuss the class. For online courses, the reflections are due at the end of the week. In some of the reflection assignments, you will respond to specific questions I pose; for others, I will ask only that you develop ideas/questions based on a reading, but the exact focus is up to you.

“How should I write?”

As you develop your response, focus on the text. Quote directly from specific passages within it and use MLA citations. Expand on the text by explaining what you believe is significant about those passages, how they relate to the question posed or a topic you are developing. Consider the author’s style, purpose, and literary devices.

“How much should I write?”

Each reader response journal should be AT LEAST two typed, double-spaced pages but NO MORE THAN three typed double-spaced pages, plus a Works Cited page.

“What should I write about?”

• Summarize the text: briefly (i.e. no more than 3 to 4 sentences) explain the characters, conflict, and major plot elements of the text to which you are responding. (REQUIRED)
• Extend/Apply: grasp the ideas in the text and take them further. What is the author’s point? How is it relevant today?
• Connect/Compare: Consider the ideas of this text compared to others we’ve read in the class. How do they work together to form a larger pattern or message?
• Agree/Disagree: argue why the author’s views are or are not correct.
• Discover/Interpret: Try to notice something others might not notice. Interpret (i.e. make meaning of) the text in a way that won’t be obvious to others. Think about symbols, imagery, allusions.
• Question: Raise some intelligent, fruitful questions. You may want to answer your own questions. You can speculate by asking “What if . . . ?”
• Inform: In response to the reading, do some research. Share relevant information, evidence, facts, quotations.

I expect you to always include a brief summary; if I assign you a specific question to address, answering it will be the focus of the bulk of the assignment. If no question is assigned, you can choose which of the above (in addition to the summary), which you will employ. You are NOT expected to do all of the above in any one reflection!

“How will the Reader Reflections be evaluated?”

• Adherence to guidelines: using MLA format, quoting properly, length
• Content: the focus of the reflection is how and what you are thinking about the readings. The depth of thought demonstrated will weigh most heavily in the grade. Simply telling what happened isn’t a reflection. You must persuade the audience as to why this work is important: because of its message, its style, its technique, its influence, its connection to the ‘real world’ . . .
• Grammar: Writing a reflection is a creative, intellectual, emotional process, so I am not as focused on “standard written English.” However, if your great idea is obscured by poor grammar, punctuation, and spelling, you have not met the requirements. Make your entries readable. Don’t use text-speak or very informal slang. You may use first person, contractions, and common American slang expressions.

“What do you mean by MLA format?”

• On the upper left hand side of the first page, list the following:
  • Your name
  • My name
  • Class
  • Date
• For the title of the paper, use Reader Reflection # centered above the text and below the heading
• Place your last name and the page number in the upper right hand corner of every page
• Double space and use a standard 12-point font
• Use parenthetical citations: (author’s last name ###)
• Include a separate Works Cited page listing the work in your text and any other sources from which you borrow words or ideas
• Read the Grading Rubric for the Reflection in the course website on Canvas for more specifics.
• For additional information, see the Purdue OWL website: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/