Spare Parts - Reading Response Journal

Reading Response Journals (RRJs) are an informal space for you to explore the readings as well as your own reading
process. The first step to writing an RRJ is to read carefully, taking notes on the text as you go. RRJs should include the
following:
1. A brief summary of the chapters (5-8 sentences) including major events, characters, and important information about
setting (place and time).
The boys decided that they would go up against the college level competition. At November 2003, a team meeting was
held and they discussed that they needed money and asked for donations from families and friends. They also discuss
the ROV and how they would measure length and temperature underwater. First, Oscar talked to De Tray and borrowed a
laser tape measure to measure length underwater. Lorenzo did not do well in school and that would result in kicking him
off the team. So he started to work harder to get his grades up. Oscar also found a temperature measuring specialist
named Frank Swankoshi, who gave the team advice and donated a thermometer. The team decided to travel to San
Diego to look at ROVs and met Donald Rodocker who gave them one of his prototypes of a ROV. On their way back, they
encountered an immigration checkpoint. They did not get caught.
2. Your response to the reading (5-8 sentences) including your opinions about and reaction to the assigned chapters.
This section is a place to think deeply about the book and the emotions and complex ideas it brings up for you.
Todays reading was very interesting. The team was very lucky that very nice people donated parts to them to help them
beat MIT. I wondered how Oscar was able to make so much connections with people. I felt happy for them because they
were able to get help from experts. The strange thing about the chapters I read was the random part like pages 101 102
which talked about Lorenzos GPA. It didnt really fit in with the chapter before it or after it. This got me a little confused.
3. 2 discussion questions. These should be openended questions that could lead to an interesting conversation, not
factbased yes or no questions.
Why did they go to San Diego all of a sudden?
Why would people like Frank Swankoshi and Donald Rodocker donate stuff to the team without getting anything back?
4. An explanation of your reading process. How did this weeks reading go for you? Discuss specific sections that made
you confused or questions that you have about the text. Point out strategies that helped you overcome challenges in
your reading. Choose one or two of the following prompts to develop your ideas:
While I was reading,
I felt confused when so I
I was distracted by but then I
I started to think aboutbecause
The time went quickly because
I figured outby
I finally understood
I remembered that earlier in the book
I was reminded of
This weeks reading was not difficult. While I was reading wrote notes on key points. The time went quickly because I
became more interested in the reading.
5. 3-5 significant words from this particular readingwords that you feel are important to understand the text, or
that you have decided to learn to develop your academic vocabulary. Define the words you choose and explain
why you chose them.

Type the words that you found significant here with your explanations
Iteration: the act of repetition. I chose this word because I do not know this word and its meaning.
Diminutive: small, tiny. I chose this word because I never seen this word before.
Endemic: characteristic of a specific people or place. I chose this word because it is another word I never seen before.

You will receive complete credit on every RRJ (20 points) by thoughtfully completing the steps as described above,
looking at the rubric to check completeness, and by turning your RRJ in on time. The RRJs are a space for you to think
through the readings without having to worry too much about grammar, organization, and the other requirements of more
formal writing assignments. However, do follow basic rules such as capitalizing I and using appropriate language.