Introduction to Philosophy resource - Reflection paper template for students
INSTRUCTIONS:
Write a 200-250-word (1-page double spaced; ½ page single-spaced; handwritten is fine, too) response to the reading, using the following structure (a, b, c or a, b, d):
(a) Say what you read and how you read it (see template).
(b) Summarize what you read or summarize a key argument or idea from what you read.
(c) Share your impression (usually a first impression). That means, say what you think about what you’ve read so far (this can range from a giving your interpretation of a quote that made you think, to explaining your disagreement with the author, to making a connection between the author’s idea and your own personal experience, and more).
Instead of (c) you can do
(d) Answer a reading question from the study packet in order to demonstrate your understanding of the text.
If your answer turns out to be longer than 250 words, that’s okay, but don’t feel like you have to write more. Just do the best you can do, given the shortness of the impression paper. Keep in mind that your impression paper might need to be a little longer than 250 words if you use a long quote in it.
Feedback from me will be minimal (not because I don’t care, but because I have so many materials to grade every week!), but you will often receive verbal feedback from members of your group. Also, if you want to discuss your impression paper with me, you can always come by my office to do so.
I’m giving you these instructions to make it as easy as possible for you to demonstrate your thoughtful reading preparation, but you should also feel free write creatively and passionately, and to follow a philosophical question wherever it takes you. So feel free to disregard the formula when inspiration strikes. Just make sure I can tell you did the reading!
GRADING CRITERIA for on-time submissions:
1 = THE IMPRESSION PAPER WAS ON TIME, ABOUT THE CORRECT READING, AND OFFERED SUFFICIENT DETAIL TO DEMONSTRATE THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF AT LEAST 4-5 PAGES OF THE ASSIGNED READING.
.5 = THE PAPER WAS EITHER LATE OR YOU DID NOT DEMONSTRATE ENOUGH THOUGHTFUL STUDY OF THE TEXT.
0 = THE PAPER WAS ABOUT THE WRONG READING, OR YOU DEMONSTRATED NO THOUGHTFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TEXT, OR THE PAPER INCLUDED PLAGIARISM (COPYING IDEAS WITHOUT GIVING CREDIT FROM THE SOURCE, SUCH AS THE INTERNET OR A FELLOW STUDENT).Page Break
If you are feeling stuck, or are worried about this taking too long to do, try following this template. It will NOT be considered plagiarism if you use it! (You can literally print this template out and fill it in by hand, if that helps you get it done!)
In preparation for class, I read ___ pages of ___________________ (title) by __________________________(author& year) . It took me around _____ to read this material and “how” I read it was _____________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ (for example: all at once/in bits and pieces/ on the train)
Summarizing what I’ve read so far, I’d say ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________(2-4 sentences)
At this point in my understanding of the reading, I have certain impressions, thoughts, questions and ideas. One of these is … (3-5 sentences, reacting to the text in your own way)
or, if you don’t know what to say for (c), then (d) is an equally good option:
To test my understanding of this text, I decided to tackle reading question #__ from the study packet. Here’s my answer: …. (3-5 sentences).
(c) or (d) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________