RESPONSIVE READING ASSIGNMENT

Purpose
Likening reading to eating, Game and Metcalfe (1996) encourage us to recognise reading as an active and transformative practice. They also suggest that reading is akin to re-writing. When we read we draw on what we have read before to generate the meaning the text has for us. So the meaning we give to any reading is always more than that contained within the reading itself we have worked on the reading to produce the meaning it has for us. The process of reading as re-writing is heightened, according to Game and Metcalfe, when we read two or more sources in relation to each other because inevitably the texts take on different meanings as we put them into dialogue. Reading and writing are central skills in any Arts subject. But we do not want you to just read, or just write, but ultimately to do so in a critical and responsive manner. If you actively explore a subject matter, if you read widely about a topic and if you allow time for these different perspectives to come together and interact with each other, that is when new and exciting knowledge can develop. As Sociologists, however, we do not only take in others views but we should also be observant of our own perspective, experiences and values. The point of this assignment is to give you space to engage in-depth with two set readings and to reflect upon the issues they raise. This will allow you to tease out the authors main arguments as well as to explore how these ideas link to the central themes and discourses introduced in the course and to the works of other authors. The assignment also gives you space to explore how your preexisting views, values and your background impact on your reading and on how you make sense of different ideas. Further, it allows you to consider how the authors arguments resonate with you, how they impacted on you, your understanding and thinking and on how you see the world around you, but also how that fits in with other views.

Process
Using the questions in the course reader in relation to each reading as a guide to what is important, you are expected to write a 500 word response to each reading. Your response should discuss the key ideas each author draws on and the key claims each author makes. Then write a 500 word reflection on the most significant things you have learnt from this assignment. You should focus in particular on the ideas that you have encountered as a result of your engagement with the readings and the course material. Do the readings have any commonalities? Turn the sociological imagination on yourself, explore how the readings relate to you and your place in Aotearoa/New Zealand. How have your views on the issues been influenced by CAGES and your social positions, how have your thinking and your perspectives on the issues been changed by the readings? Do you disagree with the arguments 1

made? Are they contrary to your own experiences? Do others agree with your perspective? You are expected to find at least FOUR additional academic resources (at least TWO for each reading) to broaden your engagement with the issues explored. You are not allowed to use the internet. Electronic resources, such as journal articles or e-books, can only be used if they are accessed through the library which needs to be reflected in your bibliography. You may use statistical data from Statistics New Zealand (www.statistics.govt.nz). Unless you are consulting a full report, these should however not be considered as counting towards the four academic sources. The use of any other internet sources will be penalised. Please note, lecture notes are not acceptable. Each lecture handout includes several resources relating to the topic. Also do not forget the additional recommended readings included in your course outline. Great assignments however always demonstrate independent research. Do not forget to include all sources in your reference list/bibliography. See CECIL for a guide to the compulsory referencing style. When you read responsively you might like to: Circle unfamiliar words and terms Note key portions of the text Talk back to the text by making brief marginal comments e.g. good point, insightful disagree et cetera.

But only do the above if you personally own the text. Otherwise you will interfere with someone elses responsive reading! Once you have finished the reading jot down your reactions to the text without referring back to the text. Allow yourself to simply write without worrying whether you have got it right. After all no-one else will see these first notes. Some of the following questions might assist you in working out what exactly your response to the reading(s) is: What impact did the reading have on how you felt? What does the reading do for you? How do you understand what the writer has said? What issues did the author raise for you? Did the reading introduce you to new concepts that you find insightful, illuminating, intriguing, challenging etc? What possibilities were created for you by this reading? How easy was it for you to get into the reading and read it through to the end? Were there places that you stumbled and nearly gave up? Did you find the language difficult at these points? Did you need something clarified?

Writing up
When it comes to writing up your response for the assignment you will probably want to read the text again, looking out for other reactions and questions. Having done that you will need to turn your initial reaction into a more formal piece of writing that integrates the variety of responses you have had to the reading into a 2

coherent whole. A mind-map or the development of an outline might be useful in working out what the key points are, how they relate and how best to put them down on paper. Most topics in Sociology are, as you probably have already noticed, quite complex. This means that most pieces of writing we encounter contain many ideas and arguments, which, in a 500 word response cannot possibly all be explored in detail. A good strategy can be to acknowledge the complexity, to name what is going on, what the different arguments, perspectives etc. are, but to only explore some aspects in depth. However, do let your reader know that you are doing that. It is also of interest why you focus on these aspects only. It is a very good idea to write a draft of your response as soon as possible. The first one can be done during the break! If you plan ahead, you will be able to leave your response aside for a day or two and revisit it with a fresh mind. This will improve this and any other assignment as you might see points that are unclear or do not fit in with the overall point you are trying to make. As with reading, when revisiting your writing after getting some distance, you might see it in a different light. From experience, most rush-jobs do not receive very high marks. They can pass, but they are unlikely to be brilliant. This requires dedication and time. When you plan in time for revision you are also more likely to pick up issues relating to grammar and spelling. While this is not an English course, we do expect that you proof-read your work. If you know that you have problems in this area, it is a very smart move to get someone to help you. You are required to reference all sources you mention in your assignment following the compulsory referencing guide (see CECIL). This is not only limited to works you quote. Quotes should be kept to a minimum as that does not show your ability to think or write. It is best to paraphrase.

Submitting your assignment

You must submit two copies of your assignment: One electronic copy submitted to TURNITIN, an internet-based antiplagiarism programme. Remember to print out and attach the receipt to your assignment showing that you have submitted your assignment. If you do not attach a receipt, your mark will not be released. One should be a hard copy which must be placed in the Sociology department essay box, opposite the lifts on the 9th Floor of HSB.

This hardcopy should have: A Department of Sociology essay coversheet which you have to generate yourself (available on CECIL). Your tutor will show you how to do this in tutorial 6. Read the coversheet closely and sign it The checklist (provided to you in tutorial 8 and available on CECIL); ticked and signed The word count at the end of each section Your TURNITIN receipt (not the full submission!) The assignment

Both copies of the assignment must be submitted on Thursday February 7 at 5pm and they must be exactly the same. Your assignment will not be marked if we do not receive a print copy and your mark will not be released if you do not submit your work to TURNITIN. The password and course ID needed for Turnitin.com are available on CECIL along with information on TURNITIN.

Plagiarism and extensions

Using the work of other writers when preparing an assignment and pretending it is your own by not acknowledging where it came from is called plagiarism. Even when you are not intending to cheat, submitting someone elses work or ideas does not provide evidence of your own grasp of the material and thus cannot earn you marks. This is the University of Aucklands policy on plagiarism: The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting his or her learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the worldwide web. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review. We will be using TURNITIN to check for plagiarism so be warned! If you are recycling your friends or your own work from other papers it might be considered plagiarism. We do take this matter very serious. We had severe cases of plagiarism last year. Consequently, substantive parts of the readings are now part of the TURNITIN-depository. Be very careful when paraphrasing do not use any of the original words. Just changing the order of the words is bad academic practice. All ideas have to be comprehensively and correctly acknowledged, that includes direct quotes and paraphrased ideas. Read and follow the Department of Sociologys Referencing Guideline available on CECIL. If you have any uncertainties, talk to your tutor before you submit your assignment. 4

Serious plagiarism will result in a 0 grade in the first instance and will see you placed on the Plagiarism Register. Repeat plagiarism may potentially result in disqualification from your University programme. Late assignments will lose one grade per working day (i.e. a B assignment will drop to B- if it is a day late). Sociology staff will empty the assignment box at 11 am on the due date. Anything submitted after that is considered late. Any assignment that is over one week late (handed in on or after 9 October 2012) will not be graded unless an extension (based on appropriate evidence such as a medical certificate) has been negotiated before the assignment is due.

Your grade
You will be graded on the degree to which you have: Responsively engaged with both readings; Written your response and reflection in a literate manner; Referenced the readings and all other additional sources according to the compulsory referencing guide (available on CECIL); Met the word length for the response and reflection of at least 1500 words (not exceeding 2000 words) in total; Submitted your response and reflection by the due date and time.

Sociology assignment grade descriptors

A: Excellent. Assignments based on wide reading (properly acknowledged through in-text references and bibliography). These assignments present wellconstructed arguments and show a clear grasp of the major issues. Outstanding assignments also exhibit independent and creative thinking and individual flair in expressing complex ideas. They observe the conventions of prose style appropriate to academic work. B: Good/competent. Assignments which are clearly structured and where the argument leads to a conclusion. They are based on adequate reading (properly acknowledged through in-text references and bibliography) and their meaning is clearly expressed in conventional prose. C: Satisfactory. Assignments written in clear, conventional prose which show a reasonable attempt to follow the assignment but display one of the following faults: inadequate reading, misunderstanding of the sources, confused argument and inadequate attention to in-text references and bibliography. Serious failings in two or more of these aspects will probably result in a fail grade. D: Fail. Work displays serious failings in one or more of the following: inadequate reading, misunderstanding of the sources, confused argument and/or structure, weakness of expression, inadequate attention to in-text references and bibliography. 5

Assistance
Leading up to the assignment due-date tutorials will allocate time to your assignment. In tutorials in week 5 your tutors will begin spending time on this assignment. You are encouraged to bring drafts to tutorial where you will receive feedback from your fellow students and from your tutor. Your tutors and I will be available to give you advice and go over your essay plans/structures or draft with you during office hours. If you cannot make my office hours email me and I will try and find time to see you. Should you not feel well over the next couple of weeks or something is going on in your private life that limits your commitment to your studies, talk to your tutor. The earlier we are aware, the more likely we can assist you.