Reading Response Guidelines/Example
We will conduct an online discussion of the weekly readings on our course blog. Each week, two students are assigned to spark the discussion (the schedule is at the end of this document). The “sparks” will post a 2-3 paragraph response to the reading by the end of the day on Sunday. Other students will weigh in to the discussion, responding to the readings and to the other posts, by Monday at 7 pm. If you feel moved by the readings / discussion please do not hesitate to post your response early, or to post more than once as you see fit.
While the sparks should provide 2-3 paragraphs , other students don’t need to have as detailed a response. In addition to reflecting on the readings, your response can address something that you found interesting or something that you (respectfully) disagreed with that another poster wrote. Remember, we will discuss the readings in detail in class. The online forum is just a way to get into the major themes / issues / questions that the readings raise for you. Formulate your blog posts accordingly.
Below is an example of my initial questions and one student’s spark to a discussion of the NYC Draft Riots from my NY History course to give you a sense of how to formulate questions / responses. This is a rough guide, not a template. I’d like to see you really react to the readings and discussion however you’d like.
I started the discussion with an introduction that synthesized the readings and the following questions. For our class, the student “sparks” should pose open-ended questions such as these:
* What divisions in New York society do the Draft Riots of 1863 highlight and how?
* While the rioters’ actions were uniformly horrific, can you find any justification in their anger?
Student response (spark):
The draft riots of 1863 mostly impact the lower class (those of Irish decent), which then had an effect on upper class and blacks. A prime example of the social divide during the riot is the creation of The Conscriptions Act of 1863. The act allowed for those who can afford to pay their way out of the draft to do so with a $300 buyout, which was costly back in those days. This allowed for the rich to be safe from war and to continue to increase the social gap, as the women of the drafted men were mostly uneducated and unemployed, their chance of survival was minimal. To tie this in to the Five Points, one can see how the poor is at a disadvantage and how unlikely it is for them to better themselves and their living conditions, thus creating an environment for an uproar or rebellion like a riot. The less fortunate were the ones being sent into battle, a battle that sprung mix emotions. As Spann stated in the “Riots and Relief” reading, “making for a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight” (pp.96).” The Irish men were being sent to battle via draft, to defend the rights/freedoms of blacks, which then were taking the low end jobs from the Irish, resulting in an uproar or racial crimes; mass brutal acts towards blacks and lynching ceremonies. The riots also included store raids in and buildings to be set on fire, which were mostly done by the Irish adding to their negative image of being the poorest of the whites.
The poor has it rough already and by taking the men to fight a war that they disapprove, created the cause for a riot; enough is a enough so to speak. The Lopate describes the massacre in detail, stores being raided, and battles with government forces; that include death on both sides. Not saying how the rioters’ handle the situation was correct, but Harper’s Weekly stated it best when all of the ingredients necessary for a riot are there, a wide economic and social gap, racism, lack or reinforcements and negativity in the media. News papers influence the minds and ideas of its general public with negativity about the war and its government instead promoting unity. I feel they had a right to speak up and let there voices be heard. The way the system was set up isn’t in there favor, in fact, it only allowed for their lives to be worst. My question is could there have been anything that could have been done differently that could have avoided a riot and if so, what? How did this riot effect the rest of the nation, what major impact did this riot have on the structure of New York City today or any major city. I know normally what happens in New York has trickling affect on the rest the world which is why I ask those question.
