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 teachers signed up the students for the college division where MIT is also participating. The kids were tasked with
fundraising and Luis asked his boss for $100 donation while Oscar asked his dads boss for a donation of $400 while
another employee donated another $400. When the students were brainstorming, Lorenzo pitched ideas while Cristian
tried to find holes in it until they found a working plan. Oscar called a laser range finder salesperson, Greg De Tray, for
advice and he ended up donating one to the team when the students solved a problem that he couldnt solve. Frank
Swankoski, a temperature engineer at Omega Engineering, donated a thermocouple with a cold junction compensator
because he believed in Oscar and the others. Oscar asked Donald Rodocker, the company president of SeaBotix, for a
loan on a pincer since the other donators gave him confidence to do so. On the way back to Carl Hayden, there was an
immigration checkpoint and Oscar was scared since he was an illegal immigrant. The team settled on the idea to put the
battery onboard the ROV in a heavy, waterproof case at the bottom.
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.

The teachers wanted the kids to have fun and gain experience from this. If I was one of the students, I wouldve
appreciated the gesture and enjoy it as much as possible. Oscar had the social skills to talk to people and attract them to
their cause and donate. Thats a really good skill to have and it helped their robotics team a lot. Leading the JROTC
helped Oscar become a better leader. On page 107 when immigration officers were checking IDs, I felt scared and pity for
Oscar because he always has to live like that. I dont know how I would be able to live in constant fear like that.
3.

2 discussion questions. These should be openended questions that could lead to an interesting conversation, not
factbased yes or no questions.

Are the teachers starting to think that the students have a chance now?
Why doesnt Cristian help brainstorm ideas as well?
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

While I was reading, I felt sad for Oscar since he always has to live in fear of being deported. I reread that part on page
107 since it made me feel sad and attracted my attention. When I finished reading, I highlighted all the ideas that Lorenzo
pitched and the logic behind them. I also highlighted the reasons why Cristian shot them down. This helped me
understand the chapter better. I felt confused when they were talking about light retracting so I googled it and then
understood it.

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

Dictionary.reference.com
Engineer - a person trained and skilled in the design, construction, and use of engines or machines,
The students were gaining experience as engineers by participating in the competition
Idea any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental
understanding, awareness, or activity The students brainstormed ideas for the robot
Gratitude - the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful A lot of people helped the students out
and they were thankful and showed gratitude
Believe to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something The students
have people believing in them now

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.