What is a Q&A?
A Q&A is a brief writing assignment that asks each student to answer one question (typically posed by the professor) and to raise two further questions about a particular subject. Typically, Q&As are posted by Friday evening in the margin of my main weblog on the "assignments" page corresponding to the course and due the following Friday in hard copy at the close of class.
Why write a Q&A?
(1) Q&As encourage critical, careful, deliberate reading of texts — readings which begin with thorough exposition and end with critical interpretation; (2) Q&As create a more permanent (written) record of the reader's reflections on a text and its author's (apparent) intentions; (3) Q&As, qua a literary form, allow students to practice and perfect their own artistic products; and (4) Q&As can promote and assist classroom discussion of texts.
How does one successfully complete a Q&A?.
A complete Q&A consists of these two parts:
1. Each student produces a 250-500-word (one-to-two full double-spaced pages) answer to the question I pose. Answers should be typed and free of grammatical/stylistic errors. All answers must take the form of argumentative (or "critical" or "persuasive") essays. I've outlined the format for composing these essays in Handouts ST, CR1, CR2, and CR3. You are not required to include a "CRITO outline" (see handout CR3) with your final essay. Properly cite all quoted or paraphrased material. Any established style is acceptable (MLA, APA, etc.) My only concern is that the method you choose is consistent, complete, and accurate.
2. Each student then composes two well-formed and thoughtful questions related to the topic at hand, avoiding rhetorical ("who's to say what is really true?") or simple (when was Kant born?) questions in favor of substantive issues of genuine concern to the student. It is not necessary to answer the questions you raise. Simply number the questions "1" and "2" and position them at the bottom of your essay.
How are Q&As graded?
Each student will receive a grade of "check minus minus," “check minus,” “check,” or “check plus,” corresponding to the letter grades D, C, B, and A. Although grading is a fallible affair, in general most Q&As will receive a “check” or "check minus" unless obviously deficient or exemplary in some respect. In full-semester (15 week) courses, students are allowed one unexcused missed Q&A and one unexcused missed quiz. (Unexcused) late work receives no credit at all. For an explanation of any abbreviations included in my marginal commentary on your work, consult my "Editorial Suggestions Key."
Note well: Q&As and quizzes are the only graded components of the course, so missing an assignment/quiz or two beyond the two allowable typically leads to failure. I collect hard copies of papers on the due date at the close of class. Aside from fully online courses, I do not accept papers in electronic form.
A Q&A is a brief writing assignment that asks each student to answer one question (typically posed by the professor) and to raise two further questions about a particular subject. Typically, Q&As are posted by Friday evening in the margin of my main weblog on the "assignments" page corresponding to the course and due the following Friday in hard copy at the close of class.
Why write a Q&A?
(1) Q&As encourage critical, careful, deliberate reading of texts — readings which begin with thorough exposition and end with critical interpretation; (2) Q&As create a more permanent (written) record of the reader's reflections on a text and its author's (apparent) intentions; (3) Q&As, qua a literary form, allow students to practice and perfect their own artistic products; and (4) Q&As can promote and assist classroom discussion of texts.
How does one successfully complete a Q&A?.
A complete Q&A consists of these two parts:
1. Each student produces a 250-500-word (one-to-two full double-spaced pages) answer to the question I pose. Answers should be typed and free of grammatical/stylistic errors. All answers must take the form of argumentative (or "critical" or "persuasive") essays. I've outlined the format for composing these essays in Handouts ST, CR1, CR2, and CR3. You are not required to include a "CRITO outline" (see handout CR3) with your final essay. Properly cite all quoted or paraphrased material. Any established style is acceptable (MLA, APA, etc.) My only concern is that the method you choose is consistent, complete, and accurate.
2. Each student then composes two well-formed and thoughtful questions related to the topic at hand, avoiding rhetorical ("who's to say what is really true?") or simple (when was Kant born?) questions in favor of substantive issues of genuine concern to the student. It is not necessary to answer the questions you raise. Simply number the questions "1" and "2" and position them at the bottom of your essay.
How are Q&As graded?
Each student will receive a grade of "check minus minus," “check minus,” “check,” or “check plus,” corresponding to the letter grades D, C, B, and A. Although grading is a fallible affair, in general most Q&As will receive a “check” or "check minus" unless obviously deficient or exemplary in some respect. In full-semester (15 week) courses, students are allowed one unexcused missed Q&A and one unexcused missed quiz. (Unexcused) late work receives no credit at all. For an explanation of any abbreviations included in my marginal commentary on your work, consult my "Editorial Suggestions Key."
Note well: Q&As and quizzes are the only graded components of the course, so missing an assignment/quiz or two beyond the two allowable typically leads to failure. I collect hard copies of papers on the due date at the close of class. Aside from fully online courses, I do not accept papers in electronic form.
