Writing Lesson 1 Active Reading.docx

Active reading Active reading is the first step in engaging in discussion with a text. Rather than simply passively absorbing what the text says, the active reader pays close attention to both the argument/themes and the structural details of the text, and responds to these through questioning and evaluation. Practically, it means doing the following: 

read a hard copy with a pencil in hand, and making notes in the margins of whatever you’re reading: commenting on ideas and the techniques used to convey these ideas, circling (and then looking up) words you don’t know, even identifying sections in which the wording appeals to you

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read not simply to seek information, but rather to seek a perspective. Don’t assume the text is inherently “right” because it is in print. Instead, ask, “How does this text work? How does the author argue his or her ideas? How does the author make use of evidence? How does the author come to certain conclusions? Is the text complete and consistent?” A text is the product of human work; it is a built thing, rather than Truth. It is like a house, in which the design is the argument/theme, and the beams and nails are the structural devices used to create the argument/theme

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briefly summarize the work’s main ideas, and any points you found particularly strong, weak, or interesting; if the work you are reading is long, you might do this at the end of each chapter. Then add a sentence or two of your own response to the ideas and whether or not you find them convincing and why

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read the text more than once (especially until you develop very good close reading skills…although, depending on the text, you might have to do this even then). The first time through is to just grasp the content at a basic level, and then you can begin intensive analysis

This is valuable practice and will help you to see you don’t just write down ideas; you get ideas through the writing itself.