Author's SS# last 4 digits

Author: [complete Student ID--no name]

Editor: [complete Student ID--no name]

You goal is to tell your reader very clearly and concisely what the article accomplished. Did it provide interesting new results on a controversial issue? Did it introduce a new theory? Did it integrate several old models? You may spend about 1-2 pages on this summary and explanation of the article. The summary should be clear and interesting to anybody else in class, whether the person has read that article or not. In the second part of your paper (2-3 pages) you go beyond your summary -- critique the article; praise its subtle methodological approach; propose a follow-up study; point out relevant other studies or findings (from your textbook, from lecture); apply the results to real life; or discuss larger implications.

When expressing your own intellectual reaction, you must back up your claims (e.g., with arguments, compelling examples, or literature you read). In particular, when you critique an article, be sure to be fair in your criticism -- anticipate your opponent's arguments and try to refute them. Also, when you apply a theoretical principle to an everyday situation, explain exactly how the principle helps us understand the everyday situation you selected.

All papers must be short and to the point. So tell your reader what you are planning to do in the first paragraph. Then, in the remaining pages, implement this plan. Also, make your paper interesting--your editor wants to learn from you, and so do I.

Write well. Avoid wordiness. Avoid typical grammatical and word-choice mistakes (see Tips on writing. Look for help in a style manual or on the resource pages provided on our main course page. See also the University of Oregon Director of Publications' general guidelines for writing and a list of troublesome terms.

Procedure. The first drafts of each of your reaction papers is due on a Tuesday (Jan 28, Feb 25). On those days, you first turn in a copy of you paper and check in on a "tracking list." Then you switch into the editor role and pick up somebody else's paper. On the tracking list, you specify the person's ID whose paper you are going to edit. You then have two days to edit the paper (see below for details), returning it on Thursday (2 days later) at the beginning of class. That day, you again check off your name on the tracking list. At the end of that class you switch back into the author role and take your edited paper home with you. You then have several days to revise your paper: You turn in the final version to me on the following Tuesday (Feb 4, Mar 4).

Editing. As the editor of a paper, you will read the paper carefully and look for ways to improve it on the following levels:

1. Punctuation, grammar.

2. Sentence length and structure: Is the sentence too long? redundant? would regrouping of words or clauses help?

3. Word choice: The goal is to find the simplest word that best describes the writer's idea. Pay close attention to the use of technical terms: is the term necessary, would a commonly used word be more suitable? Is the term used correctly?

4. Logic of thought: Are the arguments clearly presented and convincing? Do conclusions follow from their premises? Are too many assumptions left unjustified?

5. Content: Does the paper have a clear topic, a point, a message? Or is the author just rambling? Do the paragraphs speak to the general topic and do they form a coherent and logical order? Does the summary part tell you what the original article really did or are you confused? Is the reaction part truly an intellectual reaction or is it just a continued summary?

Grading. You can earn up to 120 points for you total effort on a reaction paper. When we grade you, our starting point is 100 points for writing and 20 points for editing. We will grade your writing on the basis of both your initial draft and your revised version. The initial draft need not be perfect, but it must demonstrate considerable efforts. The revised draft must be a definite improvement over the initial draft--you must incorporate your editor's comments and/or improve the paper in other ways. (If your editor did not seem to do a good job editing, come to me or George, and we'll be happy to edit your paper.)

We will assess your editing by the diligence and care of your work and by the usefulness of you comments. Your feedback must be constructive (your comments should help the writer improve the initial draft) and comprehensive (you need to address all five levels described above). Occasionally, you will edit a very good initial draft; in this case, try to work on details to perfect the paper's flow and elegance.

Please send email if you have any further questions.