" How to Read Like a Writer":
Bunn makes note about the broad idea about writing: each word, each sentence, each paragraph is a choice made by the writer. In order to read like a writer, it is recommended that the reader first understand what choices the author made in the selected text. The way to understand the choices a writer made is to look at the reader’s own response. To take it one step further, the writer should focus on what changes they can make to the text, and how the change would affect the reader. Bunn includes a passage from Allen Tate, in which Tate describes two ways to read. One way is to read as a historian, and the other way is to read like an architect. Bunn says reading as an architect focuses on understanding the very construction of the text, rather than the content of the text. Some contextual matters to focus on include understanding the writer’s purpose and the intended audience of the piece. The genre of the text is the next important thing. Genre can mean a few things. Genre can mean the type of writing or whether it is student or published writing. Taking apart each sentence and looking at the syntax and diction help understand the author’s style of writing, and link it to the genre.
Having only done a brief reading due to a family emergency over the weekend I have a similar take on Bunn's article. It would make sense though to do the things described. Understanding where an individual writer is coming from and what angle they take on a given subject is crucial to helping someone write better. We as adept writers can learn to slow down and look at a piece of writing more closely; line by line or paragraph by paragraph if necessary.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this summary of the reading, and might also add that the reading can serve as an interesting introduction to critical reading for potential students in the learning center.
ReplyDeleteANDREA's 250 BLOG
ReplyDeleteWow, your summarization skills are off the charts, Andrea! Looking through your reading responses for weeks 1-4, you did a PHENOMENAL -- I repeat, PHENOMENAL -- job of capturing the major points of each piece. I'm not just buttering your biscuit, either -- I mean it. It's clear that you have a firm comprehension of these writing/education/tutoring concepts, along with an awareness of their importance for peer tutoring.
Moving forward, I'd like you to bring more of your own personal voice/thoughts into the picture. What weaknesses, if any, do you see in various tutoring approaches or philosophies? What strategies do you see yourself using in a tutoring session? Which ones do you think you're already well-prepared for, and which ones do you think will struggle with?
I'd the remainder of your reading responses to be about YOU as much as they are are about the various articles/chapters. I'm very interested in knowing what you think + feel about what you're reading about. No two tutors are exactly like, so what's important here is for you to figure out (begin figuring out!) what resonates with you, what doesn't, and why.
Z