Haas and Flowers SQ&R #2

Summary:
This article is about reading; also, being able to know how to read and comprehend what you are reading. This article emphasizes the importance of reader’s understanding. Thus, knowing how to paraphrase, analyze, summarize and criticize. The point of this is to be able to build multi-faceted representations of the text. The article goes on to give instances of the kind of responses people give when reading a text. Kara (inexperienced freshman) and Seth (experienced graduate) are the examples and they both found the paragraphs they read to be rather confusing. Preceding, the article then moves on to focus on strategies for constructive meaning where we were provided with a graph that stated most students use content strategies. Content strategies help the reader get information from the text. Rhetorical reading is also a strategy, but it is hardly used. When using rhetorical reading it should be seen as the “progressive enlargement of the constructed meaning of the text.” Rhetorical reading and critical reading go hand in hand with each other. The real task for a person to improve their writing is by learning how to become a rhetorical reader.
Question:
Why is rhetorical reading the best strategy to use when trying to find meaning through a reading/article?
Response:
In my opinion, rhetorical reading is a great strategy to use and I know I probably fall into the percentage of people who never use that strategy. It’s a shame, because I know it’s very effective when I’m reading for comprehension, or when I’m just reading in general. In the article, there was a sentence (page 170) I really enjoyed. It was “Many of out students are ‘Good’ readers in the traditional sense: they have large vocabularies, read quickly, are able to do well at comprehension tasks involving recall of content.” I completely agreed with that statement. When I read that my mind just opened up and I realized that’s what teachers do. They drill certain strategies into you. They tell you to do things a certain way and they make you believe that’s the only way. I know in my high school, even in my AP English courses, my teacher was always telling me I needed to be a fast reader. She would drill us with SAT vocabulary tests just to expand our vocabulary, and for every essay she had a specific format which she wanted our essays to bee in. In a sense, I’m sure vocabulary, speed , and written content is important but it isn’t the only aspect of importance. Rhetoric plays a great role in the reading and writing and therefore should become a mastered strategy.

Downs and Wardle SQ&R

Downs and Wardle SQ&R #1

Basically, this article involves a new method of teaching a first year composition (FYC) course. The article emphasizes the importance of being able to understand some activities related to scholarly inquiry and it goes beyond the basics of grammar and reading. This new method called “Teaching about writing” creates a proposal that by learning the fundamentals of writing, students can in fact become better writers. Instructors of the course should also be able to respond to the writing, therefore making them experts at reading. In the first case study Jack is insecure about his writing but over time the course helps him start thinking for himself. Due to the course’s focus on the way writing works, Jack was able to learn some key principles of writing. In Stephanie’s case study she learned about the connection between reading and writing. She was able to expand her knowledge about her rhetoric and writing skills. The outcomes that came from the course included increased self awareness about the course. Students learned a lot about the techniques of writing just from reading about it. This course helps students look at writing as more than just words or required texts. It helps students to become aware of the “words of real people” with purpose sought out between the text. Research is a lot like a conversation. In order to research something you must have some sort of background knowledge on the subject beforehand. The pedagogy isn’t perfect like nothing in this world is perfect. The course work is demanding and hard to grasp at the beginning. There is very limited resources and no textbook for first-year students. Students writing assignments may not be perfect but with time they will improve. The teachers of these courses should be knowledgeable but a significant amount of teachers do not have the proper training. How will learning about writing help us become better writers?
As students we’ve always been taught to write a certain way or to follow a certain format but this is completely new. Learning about writing and about ourselves through our writing is the perfect way to progress our already smudgy writing techniques. Being that I am a senior in high school/freshman in college (any way you look at it) I know my writing skills aren’t the best out there. I firmly believe and support this whole “Writing about Writing” idea. I think it can, in the long run, become very effective because it will help me see what improvements I need to make in my writing.