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You will write a one page discussion write-ups or "reviews" for every original article (not the essays–only the articles upon which the essays are based). Your reviews are due in class each week.This will provide you with your own, personal annotated bibliography of a wide range of sources.
For the readings from the Ways of Knowing in HCI volume, we will be doing something at a similar scale (a page or so of summarizing and reflection), but I am still working out the details. I will post information on this well before we get to Week 11.
Format requirements:
- One page.
- Single spaced.
- .75" margins top, bottom; 1" margins left and right.
- 11 point font Helvetica Neue.
- Left justified (easiest to read).
- Your target for the content required below is one full page of text.
Here is what your Reactions should contain:
- 1) Name (left side top)
- 2) Date and due week number (right side top)
- 3) Full correct reference to the original article you are reviewing. You will appreciate having this in the future.
- 4) Summary Section: Write a summary paragraph or two. What is the article about? This should be in your own words, and not abstracted from the abstract.
- 5) Reaction Discussion Section: This section is a 2 or 3 paragraph section that considers the overall aims of the paper and its relevance to the literature and to your research (or interests, if you are not working on a research project). This should be reflective and considered---but please don't lose the reactionary feelings you have upon reading this material. Some students get bogged down in each and every review. I would like you to be thoughtful in your writing, but do feel free to 'react'--to write what you think, and to intellectually follow leads that come to you as you read. This should release the perceived burden of the writing task and keep you moving forward. React, Write--and then Edit. Move on. This will help you become faster, more confident writers.
If you aren't sure what to ask yourselves, here are some questions to consider as you read: - What is the historical or disciplinary context for the paper?
- Why do you think it was important for its time? Are there lessons for today?
- Are there issues that it made you newly consider? What are those and why?
- Are there questions you have that you don't understand that you'd like to better understand?
- Do you take issue with any of the points? Why?
- How did your take on the original article compare to the essayist's?
- Does it have relevance to you and your research interests or business interests? If so, what?
- 6) Leads Section: What researchers, articles, projects or research locations (labs, research groups) did reading the essay or the article make you aware of that you want to pursue? This section should be comprised of 2-4 bullet items naming those resources, and a couple of lines about why they are leads you think you want to pursue independently.