Your reactions to the readings, lectures, and discussions are critical. Outlining the readings and lectures is a regurgitative process, not an intellectual process. Only by reacting to course materials, especially in writing, does one embark on an intellectual journey. Dialectical paper has a page format with a wider left margin that serves as a space for you to react your notes. Ideally, you should keep your journal in a three- ring binder with separate sections for each.
Students can expect three to five in class writing assignments during the course of the semester.
In addition to discussing these questions, also I expect you to dialogue with the readings. It is quite likely that you will disagree or find problems with an author's conclusions, findings, or methodology, all of which is grist for the left margin of your journal entries. You will receive five points per reading for satisfactory notes completed on time. Notes turned in late will receive two points if completed properly. I will collect your journal four times during the semester and provide you with written feedback on the status of your notes and reactions.