Reading Synopses (all)

Readings are assigned following most class sessions and are due before class the following session. Read all assigned manuscripts carefully and prepare a detailed synopsis for each assigned piece. Your synopses should appear as a professionally prepared prose-based report for each selection unless the course outline identifies alternative options.

Prepare your synopses in a word processing document, checking for correct use of spelling and technical grammar. Then, post your synopsis within your private WebCampus Journal titling it with an abbreviated name for the reading (e.g., NCSS Preface and Introduction, Fitzgerald and Lester, CEFs). Next, paste your synopses into the journal (do not use the "Attach" feature). Create a new journal entry for each reading date, but put all readings for one date within the same entry. For examples, see http://coe.nevada.edu/ckeeler/SSM/StudentWork/ExemplaryStudentWork.html

Reading Syntheses (CIE 658 only)

You must begin by preparing a synopsis as above. In addition, prepare a synthesis for each session’s reading(s). Syntheses require you do more than report on the authors’ opinions by examining the text using a new lens. For example, you may compare and contrast two works (e.g., Fitzgerald and Lester’s article as it relates to Ray Kurzweil’s theories in The Age of Spiritual Machines). The goal of a synthesis is to break an idea into its component parts to create something new. This occurs when combining separate parts of the whole in a different fashion than was originally presented.

If you have difficulty deciding what to write about, you may choose to answer one of the discussion questions relating to the selected readings. These are available at http://coe.nevada.edu/ckeeler/SSM/Readings.html.

Readings Grading Rubric