The short papers are informal writing, but you should take them seriously as they are a good part of the writing you will be doing for the course. They should show that you are engaging with the readings and the class discussions.
Think of these short papers as a way to add to the conversation we will be having in the classroom. You'll be sharing them with your classmates. We'll spend the first few minutes of every class reading each other's short papers. Sometimes I'll give you a prompt or specific task, but other times, you'll have to choose how you want to respond.
Your response could include:
Questions for class discussion
Your opinion on a topic the writer brought up
A summary of what you read
Observations about what you read
A list of topics you think the piece covered
Questions you might have for the author
An interesting tangent inspired by the piece
Something you researched about the author
You could:
Share a relevant experience from your life
Share relevant information from other ESF courses
Share insights you had while reading
Connect what you read to a topic we discussed in class
Go off on a worthwhile tangent
Ask questions about things you didn't understand in the reading
Critique the text
Analyze some part of the text that seemed interesting
Relate the reading to current events
Relate the reading to environmental issues
Most of the time your response will be a full page of writing, done on a computer. Single-space the lines, but double-space between paragraphs.)
Short papers are due in class the day that we are discussing the reading. If you miss class, you can hand the short paper in during the next class for half-credit.
Short papers are due in class the day that we are discussing the reading. If you miss class, you can hand the short paper in during the next class for half-credit.
