Stacked classes

[new guy]

If you were teaching a senior level seminar that is also cross listed as a graduate seminar, how would you treat the undergrads and grads differently?
How many books is acceptable to ask graduates to read in a semester?
What about undergrads? One book? Two?

I am mentioning books because journal articles are somewhat inaccessible for undergrads, even as juniors and seniors at my university.

Would it be feasible to to assign separate books to each grad student (maybe 3 or 4 of them will take the class) and also give excerpts to the undergrads, and then have the grad students present the book to the class and lead discussion for one class meeting or two class meetings?  Only 4 books would mean between 4 and 8 class meetings where the discussion is led by the grad students. 

I am just in the brainstorming phases now. I welcome your responses to my particular questions and your suggestions. Thanks.


 

[i like your idea]

I like the idea of requiring extra reading/presentations from the grad students, as long as you are completely clear as to what that entails (e.g. what does a "good presentation" look like, how are you going to assess their extra reading, etc.) I took two cross-listed undergrad/grad classes in the history department during grad school (one was on Latin America and one on the Civil Rights Movement) and they were both pretty much throwaways because the same amount of work was required for everyone enrolled.

[been there]

I took a few cross-listed classes, and in one particular example the instructor made the two graduate students present the "point people" for discussions and debate, and there was a term paper tacked on too. (At an institution where only "writing intensive" undergrad courses have writing of any length as a requirement). First time the course was taught, if I recall, and it had more of a graduate seminar feel to it than an undergrad course, and as it was the only option in that topical area, I took what I could get.

What OP suggests (where grad students are discussion leaders for additional readings) could be good, but also sounds a lot like what I'd ask a TA to do. I suppose I'd be tempted to make suggested readings required (for the grad students) and to up the expectations for their final project - depending on what you were expecting from the undergrads.

[a thought]

If this is a larger class, you could also have different discussion sections where you take the grad students and your TA takes the undergrads.