III. Reading Response (30%): A reading response is due at the beginning of class every Thursday on the assigned reading to be discussed for that day. Students are responsible for bringing a printed copy in person to class. Late submissions of reading responses or non-in-person submissions are accepted with a penalty of ten points in reduction. The reading response must be typed in the following font: Times New Roman, size 12. It must be double-spaced and cover at least one full page. Choose a particular text (if there are more than one assigned) and do a close reading for your response. Strive for a strong thesis in your analysis.

The conditions under which assigned work or tests can be made up without penalty, including:

1. Information on excused absences related to religious observances/practices that are in accordance with ACD 304–04 “Accommodations for Religious Practices.”
2. Information on excused absences related to university sanctioned events activities that are in accord with ACD 304–02 “Missed Classes Due to University-Sanctioned Activities.”

Grading of reading responses is composed of two categories: analysis and delivery.

Analysis (70%):

1. a) Interpretation of text (e.g., making sensible connections between text and context, understanding the textual mechanics, i.e., narrative perspectives, voices, ellipsis, narrator-reader relationship, characters, plot, social environment, imagery, trope, etc.)
2. b) Effectiveness of argument (e.g., strength of thesis, employment of relevant examples, logical development of thesis, proactive attention to counter-arguments, etc.).

Delivery (30%):

1. c) Quality of prose (e.g., flow of language or absence of awkwardness; precision in diction and phraseology; conformity to grammatical and stylistic conventions, etc.).