chapter 2 – approaches to reading and writing © 2016. cengage learning. all rights reserved

© 2016. Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Chapter 2 – Approaches to Reading and

Writing

By the time you finish reading and studying this chapter, you should be able to: LO1 Understand the reading process. LO2 Understand the writing process. LO3 Use reading and writing

strategies. LO4 Improve vocabulary skills. LO5 Understand the structure of

textbooks.

Learning Outcomes

© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Discuss the following in a small group. Have someone make a list of things you brainstorm.

1. What makes reading difficult for some people?

2. What makes writing difficult for some people?

Opening Activity

wavebreakmedia, 2014 / Used under license from Shutterstock.com


Opening Activity

Now, reflect on the list you just brainstormed, and answer the following on a blank sheet of paper.

The three hardest things about reading and/or writing for me are:

Three reading/writing goals for me in this course are:


When reading a textbook, it is important to read actively.

Active reading involves: close, thoughtful reading following a reading process annotating note taking summarizing

Understanding the Reading Process

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Following a step-by-step process will help you learn the most from your reading.


Process Activities

Prereading First become familiar with the text and establish a starting point for reading.

Reading Read the assignment once to get a basic understanding of the text. Use reading strategies such as annotating, outlining, and summarizing.

Rereading Reread the text and analyze its parts as many times as needed until you have a clear understanding of the text’s key topic and ideas.

Reflecting Reflect on your reading experience: How would you summarize the text? What have you learned? What questions do you have about the material? How has this reading changed or expanded what you know about the topic?


KWL – what I know, what I want to know, and what I learned

Follow these steps:1. Write the topic of your reading at the top

of your paper. Then divide the paper into three columns and label them K, W, and L.

2. In the K column, identify what you already know.

3. In the W column, identify the questions you want answered.

4. In the L column, note what you have learned.



SQ3R – a thorough reading process in which you survey, question, read, recite, and reviewSteps Description

Survey When you survey, skim the title, headings, graphics, and first and last paragraphs to get a general idea about the text.

Question

During this step, ask questions that you hope the text will answer about the topic.

Read While you do the reading, take careful notes and reread challenging parts.

Recite At the end of each page, section, or chapter, state out loud what you have learned. (This could involve answering the 5 W’s and H—who? what? when? where? why? and how?) Reread as necessary.

Review After reading, study your notes, answer questions about the reading and summarize the text.



Writing is much less imposing when you approach it as a process rather than an end product. It breaks up the writing into smaller steps. This becomes more manageable for the writer. It will also help you manage your time wisely. Use when writing to share learning or for

certain personal forms.

Understanding the Writing Process

Oleg Golovnev, 2014 / Used under license from Shutterstock.com


Process Activities

Prewriting Start the process by:■selecting a topic to write about,■ collecting details about it, and■ finding a focus or thesis to direct your writing.

Writing Then write your first draft, using your prewriting plan as a general guide. Writing a first draft allows you to connect your thoughts about a topic.

Revising Carefully review your first draft and have a classmate read it as well. Change any parts that need to be clearer, and add missing information.

Editing Edit your revised writing by checking for style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.

Publishing During the final step, prepare your writing to share with your instructor, your peers, or another audience.



When using the writing process, be sure to understand the following points: All the steps require some type of writing. It is unlikely that the process will work the

same for any two writing assignments. No two writers develop their writing in the

same way. All the information about the writing process

won’t make you a better writer unless you make a sincere effort to use it.



Suppose you were given the following writing assignment:

In college classrooms today, professors often complain that many students do not show enough respect towards their professors, the course material, or the college experience in general. They blame this, in large part, to the major impact of technology on students today. Texting, skyping, snapchatting, and tweeting are all commonly used by this generation of college students. While some feel that these technological advances should be embraced in the classroom, others believe it is ruining students’ reading, writing, and thinking skills. In a thesis-centered essay, discuss how college students of today are either benefiting or suffering from technology in the classroom.

Activity


Activity

Ways in which technology is beneficial to college students

Ways in which technology is harmful to college students

Now, let’s brainstorm some ideas for writing this essay.


The most essential reading strategies involve writing: Annotating Note taking Summarizing Personal responses

Using Reading and Writing Strategies

Ingvar Bjork, 2014 / Used under license from Shutterstock.com


When you come across unfamiliar words, you can: Use a dictionary Use context clues Look at word parts

Improving Vocabulary Skills

Types of Context Clues

Cause-effect

DefinitionComparison/

contrast

Words in a series

Synonyms

Antonyms

Tone of the text

Types of Word Parts

Roots

Prefixes

Suffixes


Understanding the Structure of Textbooks

Parts of a Textbook

Title page Copyright page Table of contents Preface, forward, and/or

introduction Body Appendix Glossary Reference Index

Parts of a Chapter

Chapter title Learning outcomes Special opening text Key terms Main headings Subheadings Graphics Photographs and captions Side notes Summaries Resources


Closing Activity

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Based on the things you have learned in this chapter, identify five specific reading/writing strategies that you will try out this semester:

KenDrysdale, 2014 / Used under license from Shutterstock.com© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

chapter 2 – approaches to reading and writing © 2016. cengage learning. all rights reserved

Documents

active reading

reading experience

cengage learning

accessible website

learning outcomes

clear understanding

basic understanding

andor writing