Oh Boy! Papers to Grade

This is the evidence that my students have been busy. These are the next packet of projects that I collected today from two classes.

Each student had been given five articles to read. They had to find the main point. They have an extremely difficult time finding the main point. They do not know how to recognize the signals and clues in the writing. So the next class session we discuss the articles and together in small groups they share with one another what they think is the main point. Once we clear-up the issue of main points, we discuss what the subpoints are. They have to write a one paragraph summary of each article. They have to compose the essence of the message, not report what the author wrote. It is a difficult task and I remind them over and over that it takes practice and that's something that most of them do not want to do. They want to just "get it" instantly.

So these packets are their five summaries. They have drafted them, revised them, and hopefully worked diligently to compose quality summaries that capture the gist of each article's message.

Now guess what I get to do.

Good night from Southern California.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka

P.S. I did spend two hours today having lunch with a colleague who teaches in the same department with me. It was worthwhile time even though we both had dozens of papers to read and score.