The required reading is about The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin （p. 71-106）
The aim of this assignment is to cultivate a readiness and an ability to ask questions, with a view,
not to split hairs or attack, but to learn. On Mondays when the questions are due, have uploaded
two questions, a conceptual and also an interpretive question, about that week’s assigned
reading(s). Be sure to develop the question: do not just fire off a question in a sentence or two.
Contextualize and explain the meaning of each question.
1) Develop each question in a paragraph. There should be two paragraphs. Each paragraph
must be a minimum of five (5) sentences and contain a minimum of ninety (90) words.
(The assignment must be a minimum of 180 words, total, between the two paragraphs.)
2) If you quote the text, quotations must be three sentences or less. Quotations do not count
toward the sentence or the word count. The sentence and word counts apply only to your
writing, not quotations.
3) You should have a single, focused question in each paragraph: one (only one) conceptual
question in one paragraph; one (only one) interpretive question in the other paragraph.
4) Label your questions. Tell your reader which question you intend to be an interpretive
question and which question you intend to be a conceptual question.
5) a) Avoid asking “yes” or “no” questions. b) Avoid asking questions that are external to
the text, questions that use the text as an occasion to ask general, free-floating questions.
(Your question should interrogate or illuminate the text.) c) Avoid asking questions of an
imaginary reader, i.e., questions about an imaginary reader’s mental state (for example,
“Do you agree with Socrates that…?” or “What do you think wisdom is?”). d) Avoid
asking generic “Why?” questions, such as “Why do people do that?” or “Why are people
treated unfairly?” Such questions are overly general. Questions that are focused and
specific are much stronger and more interesting.
6) Be sure that you do not answer your own question. Develop and motivate a question,
but do not answer it. Be sure not to ask questions that are, in fact, disguised opinions.
I do not need any citation ,thank you!!!!
Grading and Grading Criteria (rubric): The Reflection Questions assignment will be graded according to the following criteria. 4.0-3.3: Questions are posted in the dropbox on time. (See late policy.) Meets the minimum word count (at least 90 words per paragraph), including the question. Formulates one, and only one, clear and cogent question (per paragraph, one question of each type) that emerges from and is relevant to that week’s assigned reading(s). Labels the type of question being posed. Demonstrates understanding of, and perhaps insight into, the assigned reading. The writing is focused and stays on topic. The paragraph is well organized; every sentence advances the line of thought being developed. Well-written sentences; few, if any, grammatical errors. The writing uses only academic language. 3.0-2.3: Poses two or more questions in a single paragraph. (Avoid multiplying questions, or asking the same question in two different ways, or asking different but related questions. Settle on a single, intelligible question.) Asks a question about a previous week’s assigned reading. (Be sure that your question addresses the assigned reading(s) from the week the assignment is due.) The development of the question does not engage the text. It refers to the text, but veers away and talks about topics tangential to text (i.e., external questions). Or: The contextualization of the question draws clearly and excessively from my notes rather than the text itself. One or both questions inquire about an imaginary reader’s beliefs or mental state, instead of asking a specific question that engages the text itself. Do not ask questions about anyone’s mental state—your reader or the author, for example. The paragraph is poorly organized and/or written; lacks focus; sentences seem random or scattered. The writing uses slang and/or colloquialisms. A paragraph does not meet (sentence and/or word) length requirements. 2.0-1.3: Both paragraphs do not meet the minimum word length (at least 90 words per paragraph) and/or do not minimum sentence count (at least five sentences). The question does not relate to the text, does not relevantly address any of the topics or ideas discussed in the text. Poorly organized and poorly written; excessive grammatical errors. The student gives an opinion of the text instead of developing a question about it. (This is not an opinion paper.) The paragraph uses an outside source, a source besides the text assigned on the syllabus.
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