Lecture Notes: Enhancing Writing Through Active Reading

Introduction

• Speaker: Andrea Ross, Continuing Lecturer at UC Davis University Writing Program
  • Specializes in environmental writing, journalism, business writing
  • Certified in reading instruction to aid students in understanding academic reading
• Purpose: Discuss strategies to improve writing through enhanced reading skills

Importance of Reading in Writing

• Connection between reading and writing:
  • Reading affects writing ability, effectiveness, and persuasiveness
  • Reading styles influence learning and knowledge retention
• Active reading helps in understanding and writing more effectively

Concept of Active Reading

• Active Reading:
  • Responding to text critically, questioning, analyzing, interpreting
  • Engaging with text as a conversation
• Importance: Essential for graduate studies and effective writing

Methods of Active Reading

• Survey the Text:
  • Read titles, headings, graphical elements to activate schema
  • Initial understanding aids in detailed reading later
• Focus on Intros and Conclusions:
  • Particularly useful for academic articles (IMRAD style)
  • Provides overview and conclusions
• Annotate Thoughtfully:
  • Circle key concepts, summarize, and define them
  • Use a consistent annotation system (e.g., stars, arrows, question marks)
• Engage with the Text:
  • Comment, identify arguments, ask questions, challenge points
  • Make connections with other works, discussions, and perspectives

Note-taking Techniques

• Summarizing:
  • Write summaries to cement understanding
  • Bibliographic entry crucial to avoid plagiarism
• Use of Tools:
  • Digital tools like Foxit Reader, PDF Exchange Editor, Adobe Acrobat for annotation
  • Consistent file naming for organizing notes

Reading from Critical and Rhetorical Perspectives

• Critical Perspective:
  • Examine what text does and its meaning
  • Read with/against the grain for comprehensive understanding
• Rhetorical Perspective:
  • Analyze audience, purpose, context
  • Understand influence of histories, cultures, contexts on text

Organizing Ideas for Writing

• Mind Mapping and Synthesis Matrix:
  • Visual representation of ideas and their relationships in texts
  • Helps in synthesizing information and preparing for writing

Apps and Tools for Reading

• Suggested apps: Notability, MarginNote, Mendeley, EndNote
• Importance of using reference managers

Conclusion

• Active reading aids dissertation writing
• Organize reading notes for easy access
• Use reference managing tools like Zotero, EndNote

Resources and Additional Help

• Grad Pathways, AATC Writing Center, Writing Across the Curriculum
• Encourage exploring these resources for further support

Q&A

• Discussed summarization techniques, setting word limits, peer review for improving skills
• Encouragement to view challenges in reading as opportunities to improve methods rather than personal shortcomings

Andrea Ross emphasized that understanding texts through active reading is crucial for effective writing, especially in an academic context. Participants are encouraged to take advantage of available resources and tools to enhance their reading and writing skills.