Scaffolded Reading Assignment Guidelines

15-19 points each – total of 34 points

Understanding argumentation in a written piece, and comparing methods of argumentation, is essential to your writing and reading comprehension. Whether you are reading reports, writing grants or proposals, or promoting your work or projects to coworkers in any work environment, the skills you will learn here will be helpful. This scaffolded assignment not only gives you the opportunity to practice these skills, but to also familiarize yourself with scholarly debates surrounding the nature of knowledge, identity, and the natural environment. You will use the skills you build identifying and writing about the five key components of a scholarly essay, and comparing methodology and argumentation, to develop critical thinking skills and write engaged and nuanced papers towards the end of the semester.

The five key components of a scholarly written book chapter, essay, or article are as follows:

1. Main question

2. Overall argument

3. Methodology

4. Evidence

5. Conclusion

Part One – Synthesizing the Key Components of an Essay into Written Form – Fifteen points (3 pages)

Read the excerpt from Prita Meier’s essay “At Home in the World: Living with Transoceanic Things,” in her 2016 book Swahili Port Cities: The Architecture of Elsewhere. Identify and describe the main question, overall argument, methodology, and evidence of Meier’s essay and submit a written report of what these components are, where you found them, and what the experience of identifying them was like. When identifying the author’s stated methodology and evidence in your written report, share at least one example of each. Since you are assigned an excerpt from a chapter that does not include Meier’s formal conclusion, create a conclusion for her. This formulated conclusion should include a short summary of the Meier’s argument and two questions that you think she would pose about the topic for future exploration, perhaps to be carried out by other art historians.

You should also underline and identify at least three unfamiliar English-language words, look up their definitions on Merriam Webster or Oxford English Dictionaries, and then write those words and their definitions at the end of the written report.

Finally, write at least one question for Meier regarding her chosen topic, her argument, or her conclusion that you think would create a compelling class discussion.

* Pro tip: While reading, I recommend identifying the five key components in the essay using a virtual highlighter tool and annotating the margins of the essay or chapter.

Part Two – Synthesizing the Key Components of an Essay into Written Form – Nineteen Points (3 pages)

Part Two is similar to Part One. This time read Kristina van Dyke’s article “Demanding Objects: Malian Antiquities and Western Scholarship,” which was originally published in the journal RES: Anthropology and Aesthetics in 2007. Identify and describe the five key components of van Dyke’s essay and submit a written report of what these components are, where you found them, and what the experience of identifying them was like. When identifying the author’s stated methodology and evidence in your written report, share at least one example of each. Since you are reading an entire article, rather than an excerpt from a book chapter, you will have access to van Dyke’s conclusion, and you should identify and describe it as you did with the other four key components. Keep in mind that the author’s conclusion might include a short summary of her argument near the end of the essay and may consist of some questions that the author poses about the topic for further consideration.

Underline and identify at least three unfamiliar English-language words as you did in Part One.

Finally, write at least one question for van Dyke regarding her chosen topic, argument, or conclusion that you think would create a compelling class discussion.

Formatting and Submission Requirements

Write the author’s name and essay title in full when introducing both in writing in all three Parts. Submit each assignment as a Microsoft Word document via the Spring (Brightspace). This link includes instructions on how to submit assignments on Brightspace: https://documentation.brightspace.com/EN/le/assignments/learner/submit_assignments.htm#:~:text=Type%20your%20assignment%20directly%20in,group%20locker%2C%20or%20Brightspace%20ePortfolio.

Your submissions must have one-inch margins on all sides, 12 pt. font, Times New Roman or Calibri fonts only, double-spaced. Insert page numbers at the lower right-hand corner of the “footer” in the document. Avoid large spaces or “breaks” between paragraphs, or between the title or heading and the text.