Hybrid Learning Activities for Fall, 2008

Objectives:

1. To improve writing skills in political science.
2. To improve interpretive skills in political science.
3. To improve summary skills in political science.

Each learning activity will count 20 points for a total of 120 points. A summary of the lecture outline on blackboard under course documents will be prepared and sent via email before its due date, Wednesday at 11:59 PM of the scheduled week. Students will be graded on their writing skills in preparing a summary. Summaries are limited to 500 -600 words. These Learning Activities will be sent via email to pmitchell@nvcc.edu.

Students will be graded on the following :

1. The use of formal English, correct grammar and spelling.

2. Sending your summary in the body of the email. No attachments.

3. Identification of the number of the course (PLS 120) name and the assignment in the subject line of the email.

4.Sending of the assignment before its due date. Late assignments will be penalized. 2 points per day.

5. Your use of interpretive skills in writing.

6. You use of summary skills in writing.

How to Summarize

1. A summary - or précis - is a shorter version of a longer piece of writing. The summary captures all the most important parts of the original, but expresses them in a [much] shorter space.

2. Summarizing exercises are usually set to test your understanding of the original, and your ability to re-state its main purpose. Do not introduce any information that is not in the original writing.

3. Summarizing is also a useful skill when gathering information or doing research.

4. The summary should be expressed - as far as possible - in your own words.

5. Summaries usually are limited to 600 words regardless of how many chapters are included.

6. Read the original quickly, and try to understand its main subject or purpose.

7. Then you will need to read it again to understand it in more detail.

8. Underline or make a marginal note of the main issues. Use a highlighter if this helps.
 

9. Look up any words or concepts you don't know, so that you understand the author's sentences and how they relate to each other.

10. Work through the text to identify its main sections or arguments. These might be expressed as paragraphs.

11. Remember that the purpose [and definition] of a paragraph is that it deals with one issue or topic.

12. Draw up a list of the topics - or make a diagram. [A simple picture of boxes or a spider diagram can often be helpful.]

13. Write a one or two-sentence account of each section you identify. Focus your attention on the main point. Leave out any illustrative examples.

14. Write a sentence which states the central idea of the original text.

15. Use this as the starting point for writing a paragraph which combines all the points you have made.

16. The final summary should concisely and accurately capture the central meaning of the original.