a. Develop/explore
ideas through writing.
b. Develop/express opinions, take risks through writing
c. Develop questions to research
d. Aid to reading comprehension
e. Prepare for class discussion
f. Develop appreciation of usefulness of writing as a way to find ideas, points of view
g. Other benefits: practice in writing, increase in student self-confidence, dialog
with teacher, teacher is able to monitor student progress.
- Method: Students write 1-2 pages double-spaced, typed in response to every reading
assignment. These papers are explorations of ideas that interest the student, personal
biases, efforts to understand the material, points of view that they disagree/agree with,
starting points for formal papers. Above all, these papers are explorations; yet, without
summarizing, they should show that the whole assignment has been read. Students are told
to devote about 30-45 minutes to this exercise – no more.
- Suggestions: This assignment continues throughout the semester. When students are given
leeway, they enjoy the assignment and, quickly, see that it not only improves their
writing, but allows them to have something intelligent to say in class. In addition, when
students are ready to begin their research, these papers provide starting points. Formal
papers should grow out of these early explorations.
- Problems:
- Grading – The assignment is given a completion grade only. No assignments are
accepted after class discussion of the material at hand. Students can use this assignment
to bolster their semester grades. Students who write too little, who obviously are not
thinking about what they are doing or are not reading all the material are corrected and,
if no change occurs, denied credit.
- Teacher time – To work effectively, that is to maintain the sense of dialog with
students, papers are returned the session after they are handed in. Comments refer to:
possible ideas that might be further researched in a formal paper, well-written segments,
interesting ideas, writing issues and problems that might be corrected next time. A set of
17 papers can be completed in half-hour or less.