Source Analyses - Instructions

At the end of each unit for which you are NOT writing an Observation Report, you must submit an analysis of one of the additional sources listed for that unit of the course, accessed via the links on the left side of each page. Some are (A) available in recommended books (available at the bookstore); others are (B/C) on reserve at the library & posted also on SacCT or (C) at the library media center. NOTE: half a dozen student Source Analyses will be assigned as readings for the final TRA and application exercise.

One word of CAUTION: the shortest sources are often more difficult to summarize.

Instructions

1. Choose one of the ADDITIONAL sources and highlight important passages that seem most clearly related to the mutual influence of practice and reflection. Then download and complete the Source Analysis Worksheet (SAW) provided here (PDF|MS Word), which asks you to

(A) select passages from three parts of the source that show practice shaping reflection &/or vice versa;

(B) provide an overview of the source as a whole, emphasizing the relationship between the practice and the reflection associated with it, and relate the passages in (A) to that overview; and

(C) compare and contrast the source to one of the assigned readings (i.e., those used for team assignments) for the unit under which the source is listed.

2. Submit the completed SAW via the appropriate link under the Assignments tab in SacCT on the Sunday immediately following the last class of the unit to which your source relates (see schedule). Then bring a printed SAW of the form to class on Tuesday, where you will exchange it with a peer and receive comments on it, regarding BOTH

• skillful choice of evocative passages, exceptionally clear description of what precedes and follows, precise overview and claim, and/or insightful comparison with other source(s); AND
• incomplete quotation or missing citation of passages, inadequate description of what precedes and follows passages, imprecise overview &/or claims, incomplete or unclear comparison with other source(s); and anything else you don't understand or that you think may not be accurate.

After reading over your comments, write 3-5 sentences (at the end or on the back) explaining

• which comments seemed most helpful, noting omissions or imprecision identified;
• what other omissions or imprecisions you noticed in your SAW from rereading it; and
• what you plan to do about the omissions and imprecisions identified.

3. Expand the (A) passages, (B) overview and (C) comparison in your SAW into a 2-3 page, 12" font double spaced essay, making sure to do the following. IMPORTANT: write for your peers in the class who have not read the source but need to know its relevance to our study of practice & reflection; your essay may in fact be chosen as a reading for the final TRA.

• Begin with B(i)-(ii), making sure you have adapted and completed the two formulas provided in the SAW and made them more precise if you or reviewers have identified any gaps--especially neglecting details beyond the first few pages of the source.
  

• Introduce each passage selected for A (i)-(iii) by noting its connection to your overview as articulated in B(iii), and then describe what precedes the passage. IMPORTANT: You will probably need to revise your paraphrase of what precedes each passage A(i)-(iii) by expanding the paraphrase if it is too short, condensing it if too long &/or clarifying it if it is obscure.
  
  
• Expand each passage A(i)-(iii) if it is too short, and condense it if too long (use ellipses ("...") to edit a passage that is longer than 3 sentences, but make sure to preserve the grammatical integrity of the original); and make sure there is a single page number citation (double if passage overlaps two pages) for each quotation. IMPORTANT: you will need to change one or more passages if you have not addressed all three thirds of the source.
  
  
• Describe what follows the passage and emphasize its connection to reflection & practice. IMPORTANT: You will probably need to revise your paraphrase of what follows each passage A(i)-(iii) by expanding the paraphrase if it is too short, condensing it if too long &/or clarifying it if it is obscure.
  
  
• Conclude with section C, making sure to include both comparison and contrast with specific details & citation of page numbers from one of application exercises for which the source was assigned.

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