Week Two: Critical Reading
This week will concentrate on the skill of reading critically. Additionally, we will learn about the conventions of academic writing, including integrating evidence and schools of citation. If you want to return to the general Assignments page, click on the word Assignments in this sentence.
5 videos, 4 readings
Reading, Video, and Discussion Assignments:
Comments/Discussions Note: Keep comments and responses short but cover the important ideas. Try to keep each post to four sentences or fewer. Post one comment and one response to someone else’s comment per topic.
Video: Active Reading
https://www.coursera.org/learn/english-composition/lecture/gJgux/active-reading
Reading: Daniel Coyle, “The Sweet Spot”
(to be provided by the professor either on this page or as an attached pdf file)
Discussion Prompt One: Why are main claim/evidence, aims/purposes, methods, occasion/context, and questions important in giving someone a critical review of his or her work?
Video: Integrating Evidence
https://www.coursera.org/learn/english-composition/lecture/b1b8o/integrating-evidence
Video: Moving from Discussion to Draft
https://www.coursera.org/learn/english-composition/lecture/4bF1E/moving-from-discussion-to-draft
Video: Schools of Citation
https://www.coursera.org/learn/english-composition/lecture/7f9Fk/schools-of-citation
Reading: Academic Writing Resources
(to be provided by the professor either on this page or as an attached pdf file)
Reading: Critical Review Examples
(to be provided by the professor either on this page or as an attached pdf file)
Reading: Critical Review: Sample Feedback
(to be provided by the professor either on this page or as an attached pdf file)
Video: Critical Review Writing Workshop
https://www.coursera.org/learn/english-composition/lecture/JZHYS/critical-review-writing-workshop
Discussion Prompt Two: Critical Review Feedback: When you are reviewing a written piece with several problems, how do you maintain a balance between giving an honest evaluation and not insulting or disrespecting the individual? Please, keep discussion comments and replies to classmates brief — four sentences or fewer if possible. One direct reply to the discussion starter and one reply to a classmate are required.
Writing Assignment:
Write your own critical review of “The Sweet Spot.” Use 1-inch margins, double-spaced, Times New Roman, and 12 point font. If you are not sure how to make these adjustments in your word processing application, a good place to start searching for directions is the “Help” function. Share the document’s link with me in a message using the contact form at the bottom of this page. The paper should be submitted by 11:59, September 15th, 2018.
(Most of the above material was copied directly from https://www.coursera.org/learn/english-composition.)
Self Assessment:
Take this quiz to check your understanding of this week’s material. (details to be filled in by the professor or other English department personnel)
This is just a one-question sample. I envision that five to ten questions would be helpful to allow students to review the presented material.
Quiz:
Submit your exam answers by 11:59, September 15th, 2018 by using the contact form at the bottom of this page.
1. Question One
2. Question Two
3. Question Three
4. Question Four
5. Question Five
(The specific question(s) will be determined by the professor or other departmental personnel. This is just to demonstrate how a contact form can be used to give short-answer exam questions. List all of the questions above the form then have the students answer all questions in one comment field.)
The contact form can also be used to submit questions to the professor. This page will be updated if the same question is asked by multiple people.
This is a demonstration page only; the professor and/or other department personnel will fill in the details appropriate to each specific course. Readings can be inserted in this page, linked pdf files, Scribd inserts, or links to the readings on the internet.
Crystal Fjord University 
When you are reviewing a written piece with several problems, how do you maintain a balance between giving an honest evaluation and not insulting or disrespecting the individual?
Why are main claim/evidence, aims/purposes, methods, occasion/context, and questions important in giving someone a critical review of his or her work?