Our class theme has explored what it means to read; we explored its versatility, how it affects others, why it matters so much, all to help build our critical reading skillset. These lessons, or progressions, cumulatively led this class to our last section: research. If you reflect on the early weeks of this class, we talked about how rewarding reading can be, as we learn how to extract meaning from a text as well as think critically about what we bring to the act of reading. This progression will position you to think critically about what you enjoy about reading the most, and contextualize it in a way to articulate what you have collectively learned in the class.
For your essay, you will review the handout entitled Reading with Critical Theories and apply one of the critical approaches to the selected readings (including the four essays we read in the first half of the class, or three additional readings made available on our Carmen page). To effectively communicate your critical reading skills, you will (1) discuss how and where the critical reading you chose applies to the story (textual analysis), (2) do research on the issue your critical theory raises, such as what kind of supplemental reading will help this approach make sense (via library research), and (3) reflect on how and why you chose this lens and the selection of the text you are applying it to, and how it helped improve your critical reading skills (literacy narrative). While the essay will include some personal narrative, it is designed to demonstrate your critical reading skills, with an emphasis on textual analysis and research. The goal is to show your audience what you have learned over the semester in hopes of taking these skills into the next phase of your academic journey.
As mentioned, research is required to complete this essay successfully. The tools available to you on Carmen include the Source Evaluation Guide, How to Read a Scholarly Article, and Reading with Critical Theories handouts. You are also welcome to use A Writers Reference handbook. The section that will benefit you the most is the R-tab, emphasizing research. This section walks you through the process, starting with how to start thinking about what you will paper will address, into source integration, and how to evaluate sources. Pg. 332 includes a handy guide into starting the paper by joining the conversation, which is an academic way of saying how to begin the research process.
To help clarify what exactly Im looking for, start by answering the following questions:
Why do you feel drawn to the critical theory or essay (or both) you wish to write about?
What can someone learn by applying the lens you chose to any text? (not just the one you are writing about)
What kind of information would be helpful to learn more about the theory you chose?
If you had a chance to teach someone about the theory you are researching, what would you tell them, and what kind of examples can help contextualize your theory?
You dont have to answer these questions in the essay, but by answering them, your essay will take shape by identifying what you wish to write about and how to organize it.
Manuscript Notes: 4-5 pgs., must include work cited page, MLA format (12 pt. font in Times New Roman, double-spaced, 1 margins,
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