Chapters 6 and 7 English 9/8

Reading rhetorically -

  • Consider your purpose for reading, to learn, fufill an assignment, for a test?

  • Intended Audience

  • Genre of reading

  • How the text is written

  • Consider the larger context of the text

  • Your beliefs on the topic

First job as a reader - understanding what you read

Advice to become a engaged reader

  • Find a comfort zone to read in

  • Choose a device that helps you focus

  • Discussing a text with another person

  • Go from easy to hard

  • Annotate your text as you read

Effective tasks to read slower and understand more

  • Annotate key parts of the text

  • Note problems of confusions in the text and attempt to solve them

  • Understand why the writer is writing the way they are

  • Memorize short bits of the text

Reading Unfamiliar or Difficult Texts

  • First time read for what you understand

  • Read a chunk of the text and look for how its organized

  • Read summaries carefully

  • Re read hard parts

  • Figure out what the visuals contribute to the texts

  • Take notes in margins, don’t highlight

Reading on screen or off screen

  • Be clear about purpose for reading the text

  • Close distracting pages or tabs

  • Learn how to take notes online

  • Research unfamiliar terms

  • Consider printing the text to read

Reading visual texts

  • Consider the context of the post

  • Consider the purpose of the post and the audience the post could be reaching for and what they want the audience to do.

  • Consider all aspects of the post to fully understand what the poster is going for, look at images and small details in the image

Reading spoken texts

  • split attention from the speaker to the visuals they provide

Reading across genres

  • Know what features to expect from any genre that you read, and it will help you understand the message more

Reading across academic disciplines

  • Pay attention to the types of words used in the texts

  • Know what parts of the text count as evidence

  • Be aware of how the information is put together.

Chapter 7 Annotating, Summarizing, Responding

Annotating - the process of taking notes, underlining important information, and marking passages of a text that are important.

Summarizing helps you synthesize the ideas in what you are reading and remember important points.

Tips for annotating well

  • Think about your purpose for reading the text and why you are reading it

  • What do you need to be able to do with the text

Preview the text- skim through the text to see what is about

  • Previous knowledge on the text

  • Who is the author and may they have a particular purpose.

  • Is there a abstract, if so then read it

  • Scan the headings

  • Write your initial response to the text

Annotate as you read, like a way of talking back to the text

What is the text saying?

What claims does the text make? Mark the thesis statement and mark what the author is saying

  • What reasons and evidence does the author provide

  • Note counterarguments in the text, are any other perspectives on the text missing?

Whos the intended audience?

  • Mark words that make you think of who the author is talking to

  • What do you know about the targeted audiences values

What do you know about the author?

  • Note places in the text where the author shows authority to talk about the topic

  • What is the authors stance, and mark these words

  • Note how you would describe the authors style and tone of writing

  • What type of language choices does the author make, do they surprise you or is it typical

How is the text designed?

  • How does the design affect the way you understand the text

  • Note design features that add emphasis

  • Note visuals and what they contribute

What are your reactions?

  • Mark places you agree or disagree in the text

  • Note claims you find surprising and why

Summarizing

Read the text carefully- and annotate

  • Observe your subject and take note of the main message as well as supporting details

  • Figure out the message idea or argument

Be brief, stating the main points while leaving out minor supporting details

  • a summary serves as a stand in for readers who aren’t familiar with the full text

Be fair and accurate, using neutral language

  • Summaries are like stating the facts, not sharing a opinion. Don’t use judgement or criticism.

Use Signal Phrases to present what the author says as distinct from what you say- and use quotations in moderation.

  • use signal phrases such as “she concludes” or “the report states” to indicate you are summarizing someone else’s ideas and claims, not your own.

  • At the start of a summary, state the authors name, credentials, quote notable phrases or key terms.

Consider visuals

Responding

Respond to what a text says

  • Agree or disagree with its position- or both

  • What does the text claim, and what reasons and evidence does the author provide

  • Whats the larger context on the topic

Analyze the way a text is written

  • What does the text claim. Has it been carefully qualified-and if not, does it need to be?

  • Look for and assess the reasons and evidence provided in support of the claim.

  • Does the author use emotional, ethical, or logical appeals? do you notice logical fallacies

  • Any counterarguments mentioned, and if they are are they described respectfully and fairly?

  • Has the author established authority to write on the topic?

Reflect on the texts ideas

  • what impact has the reading had on you

  • Did any parts of the text effect your emotions

  • What lessons has the text taught you

Summary/Response essays

A summary/response essay shows you have engaged with the text, understood its message, and have something to say as a result.

A fair, accurate, and concise summary

  • include the main claims and primary supporting points of the text

  • Use an even and objective tone

  • Be concise

  • Make it clear you are summarizing someone elses text by using signal phrases

A clear response, supported by evidence

  • if you responding to what the text says, take a position and state it in a thesis statement. Support this position with evidence from the text and from outside sources if necessary. Address any counterargument’’

  • You might analyze a texts organization, diction, language choices, use of appeals and other elements when analyzing how the text works. Include evidence to demonstrate the features or strategies you’re analyzing.

  • If reflecting on the texts ideas, you’ll explain a way the text impacted you personally or evoked a emotion, memory, or idea.

A logical organization

  • Summarize first, then respond: introduce and summarize the text, then state your thesis. Then respond to the text, providing thesis supporting points. End by summing up your response

  • Summarize and respond point-by-point: introduce the text and state your thesis. Then summarize a claim or strategy from the text and respond to it. Do this for as many supporting points as you have to and develop and defend your thesis. End by summing up your response and its implications.