When Emerson refers to the “labor and invention” that braces the mind and our creative reading of books, he is thinking of the material practices that scholars have traditionally used to be active readers. For readers like Emerson, or earlier like Montaigne or Shakespeare, one highly useful practice was to keep a type of journal known as a commonplace book. This is a place for notes, but notation that is largely focused on what you are hearing, seeing. I recommend that you do this sort of “commonplacing” for each reading. You might also use this notebook for other elements–as a journal for ideas that you are developing for the Seminar Project; as a place to do in-class writing (and for that reason, bring it with you to each class). But the primary focus will be quotation/recitation: what stands out to you from the reading, with some initial thought of questions, of where we (in class) or you (in your weekly Further Reading) might need or want to go for longer, more focused response.

I recommend the following 3 things for each reading assignment; approximately 1-2 pages in your commonplace notebook (or 250 words):

1. Keywords from the reading: at least 2-3 of most interest to you; provide basic definition, and be prepared to instruct the class further about these concepts.
2. Quotation: At least one of particular interest that you think is both significant for us to understand (be prepared to persuade us of that significance) and might be of use to you in your current or future scholarship. Include page citations so we can turn to it, and you can find it easily later.
3. Questions: Pose at least 1 or 2 questions you have from the reading. These are ideas that you want further discussion about, because you are unclear, aren’t yet grasping, or perhaps are grasping enough to know that we need to give it more time. Questions are signs that you are reading thoughtfully. If you don’t have questions, that means you’ve got answers—so be prepared.

I will not be collecting or grading your Commonplace Book. However, I will expect you to have it in class. Use in class might include reference to keywords/quotations you have from the assigned reading–so be prepared to have useful material in the book. During conferences, you should also have the commonplace book with you. I might ask a question such as: what kinds of questions have you had about X theory or critical approach? What keywords are you most/least understanding?

For an example or potential model for a contemporary version of a commonplace book, consider what Maria Popova does on her Brain Pickings blog. She is inspired in part by Emerson, as she suggests in this post: https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/08/31/emerson-the-american-scholar/