26 Feb Parallel Reflection Assignment
Parallel refers to writing from both an academic/critical scholarly perspective and a personal narrative perspective. Parallel Narratives, therefore, are those that (a) provide a reflection on the reading assigned and (b) a personal reflection on how the readings resonate with your own personal experiences.
A parallel reflection is a potential outlet for chronicling and making sense of your progression of thinking on a particular topic – in this case, leadership theories and frameworks. First, it is to give you the opportunity to share your insights, opinions, and experiences while critically engaging with and reflecting on scholarly models, theories, and research. Thus, as an academic “diary”, it is expected that your entries will showcase your insights as a critical thinker and critic of the readings. Second, based on principles from narrative research, it is theorized that you can best understand and open yourself to course material by engaging in writing the personal experiences that resonate as you read scholarly materials for class.
Your Parallel Reflections include three parts.
PART 1. Scholarly Entry (50 points)
First, your scholarly entry should demonstrate your thoughtful and critical engagement with at least one of the week’s assigned readings (i.e., the reading that is due the day your parallel blog is due). You may, of course, also draw from theories, concepts, and research we have discussed in previous weeks or other readings in addition to the readings due that day.
Second, in the spirit of encouraging engaged class discussion, consider ways in which you might offer insights that will get conversation going with your peers.
The following are some questions and guidelines that may help you as you do your reading and write your scholarly entries. You do not have to follow this formula, but it may be a useful guide for the kind and scope of scholarly insights the blog assignment requires:
1. What is the main premise of the article or chapter? (summarize in a few sentences)
2. What are your reactions (both positive, negative, and/or neutral) to the readings, including the theories, premises, methods, findings, implications, arguments, etc.?
3. What questions, confusions, and/or ideas for future research emerge as you read?
4. What is one position you would take or discussion question you would pose to get your classmates talking?
PART 2. Personal Reflection Entry (15 points)
The personal reflection is a place to voice your opinions, insights, and experiences. Thus, entries should NOT just be summaries of what you read, but rather the articles should be the subject and/or evidentiary support for the insights you gleaned by completing the reading.
PART 3. Comments (10 points)
As part of your class participation, you should comment on at least one other person’s Scholarly Entry.
· What images, expressions, or points did the author of the scholarly entry make that resonated with you most? How does the response to the reading resonate with you most?
· What will you do with the knowledge you’ve gained from reading about the author of the scholarly entry’s perspective?
