Reading Rhetorically:

1
Chapter 6

• Reading Rhetorically
• The Writer as Strong Reader

2
About Reading Rhetorically
3
What Makes College-Level Reading Difficult

• Vocabulary
• Unfamiliar Rhetorical Context
• Unfamiliar Genre
• Lack of Background Knowledge

4
Reading Processes Used by Experienced Readers

• Varying Strategies to Match Reading Goals
• Vary Strategies to Match Genre
• Adopting a Multidraft Reading Process

5
Improving Your Reading Process

• Slow down or speed up, depending on your goals.
• Reconstruct the rhetorical context.
• Join the texts conversation by exploring your
  views on the issues before reading.
• Lose your highlighter find your pen.
• Get in the dictionary habit.

6
Improving Your Reading Process

• Recognize when lack of background information is
  the source of your difficulty.
• Try translating difficult passages.
• Read both with and against the grain.
• Continue the conversation after you read.

7
Writing a Summary

• On the first read, look for general meaning.
• On the second read, write gist statements in
  the margins, summarizing each paragraphs main
  point.

8
Writing a Strong Response

• Write out questions triggered by the text.
• Identify hot spots in the text.
• Articulate how you differ from the intended
  audience.
• Articulate your own purpose for reading.
• Ask generic strategic questions.
• Consider the purpose of your response.

9
Summarizing Open-Form Prose

• The summary is less likely to parallel the
  organization of the original article.
• Open-form pieces require you to create the
  meaning of what you read.
• Use your own interpretive powers to create the
  unstated main points.