Sample Faculty Exercises
- "Mamma Mia: Mothers and Monsters in Western Culture," submitted by Marilyn Francus. This activity utilizes rare books for the basis of an essay assignment. Access the Mamma Mia exercise.
- "Shakespeare's Folios," submitted by Stewart Plein. This exercise introduces students to the language of Shakespeare’s day in order to make it more familiar and less intimidating. Participants learn how to compare the materiality of multiple Shakespeare Folios in order to trace publishing history, the fluidity of language, and 17th century print culture. Access the Folios exercise.
- "Texts as Artifacts," submitted by Cari Carpenter. This assignment provides a framework for students to think about books as commodities that circulate ideas, and reflect culture, marketing, and aesthetics, towards the development of a 5-6 page essay. Access the Texts as Artifacts exercise.
Rare Book Pedagogy Assignment Templates
- Editing and Transcription Exercise Template
- Material Culture Exercise Template
- Illustration Exercise Template
- Multiple Edition Exercise Template
Sample Grading Rubric
A (90-100) – Excellent work. The essay has been completed in a professional and timely manner. The student has engaged with the subject in a thoughtful and thought-provoking manner. The essay has a clearly articulated thesis, and it is clearly organized; the author has chosen compelling evidence to substantiate the analysis. The essay does not require substantive revision, and there are no grammatical or stylistic errors.
B (80-89) – Good work; the essay has been completed in a professional and timely manner. The essay shows that the student has substantially engaged with the subject, but the analysis is either partially incomplete, includes weak evidence, or manifests some difficulty with organization. The essay requires substantive revisions, but few or no stylistic ones.
C (70-79) – Average work; the essay has been completed but not necessarily in a professional or timely manner. The essay reflects effort by the student, but the analysis is incomplete, includes inappropriate evidence (or a lack of evidence), or shows significant difficulties with organization. The essay requires significant substantive or stylistic revisions.
D (60-69) - Less than average work. The essay has not been completed in a professional or timely manner. The essay shows a lack of effort on the part of the student and a lack of engagement with the assignment. The essay lacks analysis, evidence, and organization; extensive substantive and stylistic revisions are necessary.
F (<59) – Inadequate work. The essay has not been completed, or when submitted, the essay demonstrates a significant lack of effort on the part of the student. Such work is marked by the absence of analysis, evidence, and organization; engagement with the illustration and the assignment is necessary before extensive revisions are even possible.