Introduction to Units about Reading

OVERVIEW

Reading and writing skills are closely related. College writing assignments often require you to demonstrate your deep understanding of subject matter, which you get through active and critical reading.

The units in this section address specific skills such as finding topics and main ideas, recognizing structure, and reading arguments. The units also explain what to do before you read, while you read, and after reading so that you really understand what the text means.

Good readers want something from the texts they read. They want to learn, to be entertained, to solve a mystery, or even to ask a new question. Finding your purpose for reading—one more motivating than because it was assigned—may be the first challenge you face.

Sometimes motivation comes while you are doing the work, not before you get started. Apply the activities discussed in these units to your reading assignments; while doing that work, you might discover that you’ve learned something, had fun, found a solution, and formed more questions.

WATCH

In this video by Peter Berkow, several professors and writers talk about their purposes for reading. In particular, these professionals are talking about how reading influences their writing. They read different kinds of texts: a busy marketplace, other writers, textbooks. Yet, they share the goal of making sense of what they read so that they can improve as writers.

Download transcript.

Berkow, Peter. “Analyzing Text.” VideoCentral. Bedford/St. Martin’s.

RESPOND

After reading the overview and watching Analyzing Text,” consider the question(s) below. Then “submit” your response.

  1. Question

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  2. Question

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  3. Question

    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
  4. Question

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  5. Question

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