Journal Reading Notebook
Each week you will practice active reading and annotation. The Reading Notebook is part of this practice and consists of a template you will fill out and submit to Waypoint. This week, the Notebook focuses on what to do before, during, and after reading. In addition to practicing active reading and annotation, these notebooks are meant for you to determine how you prefer to annotate.
This week, you will practice steps that should be taken before, during, and after reading. You will read and annotate The Declaration of Independence (Links to an external site.).
- Go to the link The Declaration of Independence (Links to an external site.).
- Annotate the document either by printing it out, saving it to your computer, or taking notes separately on a Word document or in a notebook.
- Fill out the Week 1 Reading Notebook Template and submit to Waypoint by Day 7.
See attached
Link:
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
GEN104 Week 1 Reading Notebook v.04.29.19
Questioning Activity
This activity helps you practice questioning by offering examples of the kinds of questions you might ask yourself before, during, and after reading. It also allows you to create your own questions for reading. You will practice answering these questions using a reading passage. It is recommended you have the reading passage open on your computer or printed out for you to refer to as you work on this notebook.
The reading passage is the Declaration of Independence:
Preview the text by skimming the introduction and conclusion below to identify the main idea. Then answer the next five questions.
| Introduction |
| The Declaration of Independence of The United States of America
By Thomas Jefferson IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. |
| Conclusion |
| We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. |
Answer these questions before reading the entire passage.
1. What do you already know about this text?
2. What are you hoping to learn from reading this text?
3. What feelings or biases do you have toward this text?
4. Write down one or more additional questions that you would like to ask before reading the text and answer them below. Tip: Questions to ask before reading can address what you know or want to know about the topic, how you feel about the topic, what you think the text is about based on your preconceptions, and what your purpose is for reading the text.
5. Go back and scan the text. Then, write down one or more guide questions that you would like to be able to answer after reading the text. (A guide question helps guide your reading process because you will be reading the text with that question in mind. It should address something stated or covered in the text.)
Now, open the document and while you read through the text, carefully answer the next two questions.
https://constitution.org/us_doi.pdf
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
6. Answer this question while reading the passage. As you read, ask yourself questions to clarify meaning. Begin your questions with who, what, when, where, or how. Normally, you would write these questions in the margins or in a notebook. For this activity, write down your questions and answers below.
7. Answer this question while reading the passage. As you read, ask yourself questions to monitor your understanding of what you are reading. Begin your questions with “I statements” like “I think,” “I like,” “I agree,” “I don’t understand,” and “I was confused by.” Normally, you would write these questions in the margins or in a notebook. For this activity, write down your question and answers below.
Review the text and complete these statements after reading the passage.
8. I was confused by….
9. After reading the passage, I learned…
10. I agree with….
11. I disagree with…
12. This passage reminds me of…
13. Write down your guide questions again and answer them here.
Activity adapted from Excelsior University OWL
