Directions and Scoring Criteria for Short Thematic Papers

Think about STPs as conversations with us about the readings. It's ok to ask questions, to wonder, to critique, to try out new ideas. To write one, you will need to think deeply about some aspects of the readings.  Often the part that takes the longest is coming up with a theme and figuring out what you want to say about it.  But doing this thinking and processing will make the information "stick" in ways that will help you recall it and, more importantly, use it in your own teaching. It doesn't matter if we agree with your position, as long as you support it.  We'll "talk back" in our comments.

After reading, talking, and thinking about the readings in a set (see below), jot down some of the ideas you think are most important.  Select one on which you want to take a position, and that can be used to relate several readings with your own experiences as a teacher or learner. For example, you may choose the theme "complex activities lead to better learning," based on the readings and your emerging theory of learning.  As you write, develop your theme while using

• ideas from the readings critically to support or challenge your own position (at least 3 readings for STP#1, 4-5 readings for STP#2)
• your own teaching/learning experiences to illustrate and support your position
• In STP#2 only, make a connection back to something you read in the first two weeks of the course.

When you finish, give your paper a title that reflects your theme. Take a look at the sample STPs, but read the caveat first!

We will use these papers to assess your understanding of the readings and ideas and your ability to use them as you think about teaching and learning.  However, STPs are not the traditional "summarize what I read" paper you may be used to.  Instead of summarizing, you will take a position on the theme or big idea and compare it to the positions of the authors you read, as you interpret them.  Some authors may support this idea while others challenge it – challenge them back!  Using the readings critically means that you don't automatically accept the author's position, but instead examine the evidence presented and the assumptions made about learners, teachers, or communities.

Checklist for Short Thematic Paper #1 (2-3 pages double-spaced, 1" margins, 12pt)

____    Theme clearly identified, title reflects theme

____    Readings are used critically to support or challenge the position taken (no summaries)

____    No major misunderstandings of readings

____    At least 3 readings from Jan. 7th and 12th are used.

Checklist for Short Thematic Paper #2  (3-4 pages double-spaced)

____    Theme clearly identified, title reflects theme

____    Readings are used critically to support or challenge the position taken (no summaries)

____    No major misunderstandings of readings

____    At least 4 readings from Jan. 26th through Feb.11th are used.

____    Makes a connection to at least one reading from Jan. 7th or 12th.