For Assessment #4 (The Syllabus Archive Project: Exploring College Reading Assignments), complete the following:
Create a KWL on Jodi Holschuh’s article “College Reading and Studying: The Complexity of Academic Literacy Task Demands.”
Choose five unknown words from the article and use one of the following strategies to learn the the five words: Four square graphics or a KIM chart or Word Concept maps.
Choose one of your current or past Mt. SAC classes and create a Mindmap of the reading expectations for the class. Use the class’ syllabus as a guide. Put the name of the class in the middle and branch out with ten questions about reading assignments (sample questions: How many pages are students supposed to read each week? How does the instructor check to see if students actually finished the assigned readings? How does the instructor help students learn new vocabulary words in the class? What is the purpose of reading assignments in the class? What instructions are given for assigned readings? What type of readings are being assigned? etc.). Post your Mindmap on the discussion board.
Create a Venn diagram comparing the reading expectations on your Minmap to someone else’s Mindmap.
In a one-page, double-spaced, typed summary, explain the reading expectations for the class you Mindmapped (or lack of reading expectations). Include information from the syllabus related to class readings. If the syllabus does not list any of this information about assigned readings, find a different syllabus from a different class. If the syllabus lists some of this information, summarize the information listed and discuss information that is missing or would be helpful for students to know. If you can’t find a syllabus that lists information about reading assignments, the University of Colorado, Boulder has a syllabus archive (Links to an external site.) at Here is a link to the syllabus archive at the University of Colorado (Links to an external site.)
In a one page (double spaced typed) reflection, describe what professors in general can do differently when it comes to reading assignments? In general, what can students do differently when it comes to reading assignments? How do you feel about most of your assigned readings? Why do you feel this way?
