Miami University

Claudia Ferreira
Short Writing Assignment for Students

2003 Workshop on Improving Student Writing
Center for Writing Excellence
Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching

IDS 151 Diversity Seminar

Claudia Ferreira

1 Credit-Credit/Non-Credit

Double-Entry Notebook Assignment

Purpose and Connection to Seminar Goals:

• To help students focus actively on reading materials, peer comments, class discussions, and other sources (i.e. Center for American and World Cultures Lecture Series, further reading, etc.).
• To encourage critical reading, listening, and writing skills.
• To create a context for objective and subjective reflection.

The assignment is intended to facilitate the achievement of the seminar goals, particularly the following:

The seminar is designed to create an environment where students strive to learn from each other in an atmosphere of positive engagement and mutual respect and to educate each other on the existence and effects of racism, ageism, homophobia, religious intolerance, and other forms of prejudice.

Assignment Process

Students will keep a divided notebook or learning log. After completing the reading assignment for each session, students should write down ideas taken from the reading.

a) On the left side, you should copy important, confusing, interesting, or controversial statements.

b) On the right side, you should discuss the statements on the left side. This discussion should be based on your own perception and analysis, the exchange of ideas with your peers, and class discussions. Please, write your thoughts freely, with no constraints on content, form, or style.

• You are expected to expand the right side of the log with the ideas discussed in class.
• While you are being asked to discuss the statements on the left side, this discussion might lead you to add new statements to either side.
• This divided notebook or learning log will be the base for your 2-page final paper. Students are expected to submit the notebook, all drafts, and notes, along with the final paper. Please note that you will be asked to submit these materials in chronological order.

The contents of this notebook are confidential; I am the only person who will read them besides you.

Please, ask me if you have any questions.