VCLA - Reading

4 steps to help you increase your skill in finding the gist of a written piece

(1) always ask yourself 'what is the point' when reading through a work; (2) predict where the author will go to next in their writing, then confirm if you were right or not; (3) see if you can summarize the gist of the article using 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4 of the space used by the author, then use 4 sentences, then just 1 sentence; (4) evaluate just how well the author did in providing a piece where the gist could be discovered and learned quickly and efficiently

What is culture?

a group of people with similar language, religion and beliefs

When should you use visualization as a reading strategy?

before, during and after reading

When can you vsualize?

before, during and after reading with any type of writing

In regards to visualization, what should you do during reading?

begin to play the movie in your mind

What are 2 ways of looking at a work of literature?

big-picture reading and close-reading strateges

How can reading change your perspective and worldview?

by introducing us to new cultures; by introducing us to new point of views; by learning about different interpretations of the same events; by learning about different races, genders, and religions

How can visualization help with reading comprehension?

by supporting recall of the text

'Examining the sound patterns of a poem' is an example of what type of reading strategy?

close reading strategy

'Focusing on reading the first lines of Romeo and Juliet' is using what type of reading strategy?

close reading strategy

What is visualization when reading?

creating pictures in your mind as you read

visualization

creating pictures in your mind as you read

big-picture reading strategies

focuses on larger themes or recurring details, like mentions of fate or free will; the 'far' view; take the poem, play or novel as a whole, and think about elements that wind through the entire work

When an author writes a book, he/she is developing his/her point of view, but also representing...

his/her culture; a time in history; belief system; a popular way of thinking

Why is visualization important?

it brings the reading to life and enables us to relate even to characters who are very different from us; it makes it easier to determine the organizational structure of the text; we feel more connected to the material and better able to understand the author's use of literary devices

Why is visualization important?

it can help with our reading comprehension, make you feel more connected to the material, and create a more personal experience

What is a good exercise for connecting your reading to personal writing?

know your own values, learn the author's values, and then see how they relate

close-reading strategies

look at the small details in a story, poem or novel and how they connect to the larger story being told; the 'near' view; word, sentence and paragraph level

In regards to visualization, what should you do before reading?

look at the title, skim the material, and note any pictures or graphs; try to put an image in your mind of what you think the story will be about

What are our values and beliefs?

our principles and importance

culture

pattern of language, knowledge, experiences, religion and beliefs

What is a way to challenge yourself in finding the gist?

practice the four steps with an unfamiliar subject

What is NOT a strategy for improving reading comprehension?

practicing your writing based on activities in your daily life

In regards to visualization, what should you do after reading?

review the material that you read by recalling the scenes you have created

What might be included in a close reading of the line from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?

rhyme scheme, word choice, and the author's intent just in certain lines

What should you consider when visualizing?

sounds, smells and sights

argument (of a passage)

the author's point of view about the topic; an argument is always something that can be argued against; will be debatable

gist

the essence of the authors work; the main point; it's what the author spent all that time and all those words trying to deliver to you

Why should you watch out for reading transitions?

they can help you figure out the main point of the passage and the relationships between pieces of information in the passage

types of transitions

transitions that signal continuity, contrast and/or where you are in the passage

'also,' 'therefore,' 'furthermore,' 'moreover,' and 'because'

transitions that signal continuity, the information will carry on in the same vein

'but,' 'however,' 'despite this,' 'in contrast,' and 'on the other hand'

transitions that signal contrast, the information will be contrasted in some way

'first,' 'second,' 'third,' 'finally,' or 'to begin with'

transitions that signal where you are in the passage, can give you 'road signs' to the passage and prevent you from getting lost

topic (of a passage)

what the author is writing about

What is NOT an advantage of learning to find the gist of a piece of text you are reading?

you can eventually begin to skip over parts of passages you read and still figure out what's going on in the writing