Suggestion 190. Assign analysis of an essay or article

IF YOU WANT TO:

• Give students interesting and stimulating assignments

• Motivate students to do their best work

• Develop students' analytic and communication skills

Assigning students to analyze an essay or journal article and to write a critique of it.

One professor of English assigns the work of a literary critic and then asks students to write an essay taking an adversary position. "If your assignments are provocative," he says, "you get better results. I stress the importance of their presenting a personal point of view. They should enjoy doing the paper; it should provide them with a personal learning experience."

A psychology professor also assigns students to write an evaluation or critique of a paper by a professional psychologist. "The process of analysis and evaluation captures what I am trying to do in the course," he explains.

Limitations on Use of Suggestion

  Discipline:  None
Course Level:  None
 Course Size:  None
        Mode:  None

Copyright 1983 by the Regents of the University of California

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