Philosophy 160
Professor Stemwedel
Spring 2004
Reading response guidelines
1. Each reading response should be a short essay of approximately 300 words,
1-2 typewritten double-spaced pages in length. You must write
in full sentences and use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
2. Your essay should answer the assigned question, drawing on the
relevant reading assignment. It is very important to deal with what
the author says about the question, not simply with what you think.
(However, you may contrast your own opinion with the author’s, offer a critique
of her argument, etc. But this requires that you start by setting out
the author’s position.)
3. Even though you are dealing with the author’s view about the question,
you need to express it in your own words. Extended quotations of the
text are inappropriate in an assignment of this length, and even short quotations
require your analysis (e.g., you will need to explain what the sentence
you have quoted means, how it bears on the question, etc.).
4. Misrepresenting the words or ideas of others as your own is plagiarism.
You will not receive credit for any reading responses that contain plagiarism.
5. If you are completely unsure of what the author is claiming or how it
bears on the question you have been asked to answer, you should write a brief
essay on what the author seems to be claiming, why it does not make sense
to you, and what two questions you might ask the author to help you understand
his view.
6. Reading responses are due at the beginning of lecture. No late
reading responses will be accepted. Of the 6 reading responses
assigned, your lowest grade will be dropped from the average.
Reading Response questions
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