WEEK 6, SEM 2: READING & WRITING A READER RESPONSE

Objectives

When you have finished this section, you will be able to

§  differentiate between reading to comprehend and reading to learn (evaluate);

§  apply your learning about summarizing, outlining, and writing a thesis with supports while crafting a reader response

Resource List

 

1)      The key focus of a reader response essay: http://trccwritingcenter.pbworks.com/w/page/9356011/Reader%20Response%20Papers

 

2)      A very brief explanation of the reader response:
http://virginialynne.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Write-a-Reading-Response-Essay

 

3)      In detail, the nuances of reader response: http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/engl0310link/readerresponse.htm

Key Concepts

 

§  Reader Response

§  Critique

§  Evaluate

Procedure

A.    Before Class

1.    Survey the websites provided in the Resource List above.

 2.    Read websites 1 & 2 and scan/skim website 3 for more information.

 

B.    In Class

 1.    Do Task A (45 minutes).

2.    Complete Task B (45 minutes).

 

C.    After Class

 1.    Review the Summary and Reading Response Rubrics on the course website.

2.    Read about outlines and graphic organizers.

3.    Practice summarizing, whether your summary is of an article you’ve read, a movie
       you’ve watched, or song lyrics you’ve heard.


Tasks

 

A.   Summarizing

 1.    Within a small group of classmates, skim and scan an article from the Reading Articles file (see the course website under Reading Resources) provided by your tutor. With the aim of preparing a brief summary, answer the following questions in brief written notes.

 

      (a)    What is the title of this article?

(b)    Who is the author?

(c)     What is the author’s main idea? 

(d)    What other ideas are key points?

 

2. Share your notes with your group mates. Do you agree on what ideas are key or essential?

3. Using the ideas that your group has identified as being essential, prepare a short written summary of the article. Share this first with your group mates, then with the class at large.

B.   Responding to a summary (reader response practice)

1. Write a brief reaction to the main ideas expressed in the summary. Be sure to do each of the following as you write:

 

(a)   Pinpoint one key idea described in the article summary that you are going to evaluate in your response.

(b)    Write a statement (thesis) of agreement or disagreement in which you give your

  opinion about the focal point you identified in (b).

 

(c)     Support your opinion with information from the article, from other information

  you have read, and from your own experience.

 

(d)    Conclude with a very brief restatement of your main idea.

 

2. Share this “response” with your group mates, orally or in writing.

 

3. Give feedback on the reader response provided by your group mates.