Active Reading
This homework was assigned to have the class annotate and think about Carol Dweck’s “The Power of Believing You Can Improve.” This is a good example of my active reading because, in this assignment, we are asking questions that get to the core of what Dweck is trying to explain about growth and fixed mindsets. First, I explained the difference between these mindsets. Next, I go into depth on how to stimulate a growth mindset. After that, I write about what intelligence really means from my perspective on Dweck’s talk. And lastly, I connect Dweck’s work to a time in my life. This was an excellent assignment to complete before writing the first draft of this essay because it allowed me to establish my position and understanding of Dweck’s work.
In this assignment, we read and made annotations to Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “The Case for Reparations.” The first task was to find the four most essential quotes on HR 40 within the article, which helped in the quote-finding process later when writing the essay. In the following three tasks, I chose to explore the justice around HR 40, the “existential” problem in America, and America’s “mythical” origin story. I think these show good active reading because I am making multiple connections to HR 40 from other parts in the article, all of which I used in my final draft of my essay.
In this assignment, we were comparing Ungar and Scheuer to the CAS Handbook. I think this homework, especially, helped me develop my “relation” annotations. For example, in the second task, I evaluated how two of my classes (Psychology and Philosophy) fit a liberal arts education. I also made a connection between the CAS handbook and Ungar’s seven misconceptions of the liberal arts, which both stress the importance of critical thinking because of the long-lasting positive effects. I think these connections show good active reading because writing a good essay involves knowing every point of connection between texts and the limitations around them.
These annotations, I believe, also show good active reading. I tend to make a lot of “relation” annotations because I think they are the most important for using good examples, writing good evidence, and allowing personal connection into the essay by connecting it to one’s personal life. I think I can still develop on writing good “challenge” annotations which will expand my ability to make my point in an essay.
