Summary and Reflection/critique

Order Description ? The purpose of the CRL is to provide students with the opportunity to critically reflect upon and engage with the texts in preparation for course meetings. A step in the critical reading process may involve summaries and outlines, but these are not the purpose of the CRL as they are not sufficient to facilitate dialogue in class. ? The purpose of using CRLs is for critical reflection that facilitates dialogue, rather than summary or note taking. This is not an assignment to be completed “for” an instructor’s sake, but rather a way for you to develop a tool that facilitates your learning and the learning of your peers. ? Students should bring a hard copy of the CRL to class each day. ? Listing page numbers for important points or using brief quotes from the text may be useful for reference during discussions. Take time to investigate any new or unfamiliar terms as you read. ? Below are guidelines and questions to consider for the three main sections of the CRL. Rather than responding to each question, use them as prompts to facilitate your reading reflections. Main Ideas/Concepts: The purpose of this section is to reflect on the “take-away” ideas from the reading(s). What were the main points that stood out for you (e.g., key arguments, findings, concepts, and/or theories)? What insights did the reading(s) provide? What do you think the author(s)’ intent was in writing the piece(s)? How might the author(s)’ biases have impacted the discussion? Questions and Critiques: The purpose of this section is to reflect on your own insights on the reading(s). What questions arose for you as you read? What critiques would you offer for the author(s)? Do you feel the author(s) left something out? Do you feel the argument(s) could be strengthened in any way? Are there other perspectives that the author(s) should consider? What are the connections of this piece to your practice?