Students are sometimes asked to express reactions and feelings, sometimes to develop ideas and analysis, and sometimes to compose one or a series of questions. Mabanglo usually requires each student to prepare an individual response. Each of these strategies encourages students to view their learning as a part of a dialog with other students, the instructor and the authors being read. Insights developed in journal responses often become the impetus for other written assignments students must complete. Formal Peer Responses Students write three essays about literature during the semester, each a minimum of seven pages in length.
Students bring completed essays to class.
Mabanglo then gives each essay to another student who must study it and compose a formal critical response of at least two type-written pages. Mabanglo instructs respondents to examine mechanics, but emphasizes that they analyze the essay s organization and ideas. She encourages respondents to make use of what they have learned from writing their own journals and essays and to engage the student essay with the same seriousness that they would a published work. Student responses are returned to the essay s author who, in turn, composes a written reaction to the response. Essay, student response and the essayist s reaction are then submitted to Mabanglo.