Lecture Notes: Enhancing Writing through Active Reading

Introduction

• Presented by Andrea Ross, Continuing Lecturer at UC Davis University Writing Program.
• Specializes in environmental writing, journalism, and business writing.
• Obtained a certification in reading instruction from UC Irvine.
• Focus on incorporating reading skills into writing courses to mitigate imposter syndrome.

Purpose of the Workshop

• To improve writing through the development of better reading skills.
• Provide strategies for active reading.
• Discuss tools and techniques to aid reading and note-taking.

Connections Between Reading and Writing

• Often forget the main arguments from readings.
• Traditional reading methods don't apply well to academic writing.
• Reading affects writing quality and persuasiveness.

Active Reading

• Definition: Engaging critically with a text, not just passively consuming it.
• Importance: Part of the writing process and essential in graduate school.
• Techniques for annotating text both manually and digitally.

Tools for Annotation

• Digital Options:
  • Foxit Reader (Windows)
  • PDF Exchange Editor
  • Adobe Acrobat's commenting tool
• Annotating involves highlighting, making notes, and creating summaries.

Annotating Process

• Surveying the Text: Identify headings, graphs, and captions to activate schema.
• Reading Strategies:
  • Read intro, conclusion, and if possible, abstracts of academic articles.
  • Read entire sections before highlighting to understand the full idea.
  • Create a personalized annotation system (e.g., question marks, stars, arrows).
• Communicating with Text: Think of annotating as engaging in a conversation with the text.

Critical Reading

• Critical vs. Non-Critical:
  • Non-Critical: Restating key points.
  • Critical: Examining what the text does and its meaning.
• Reading With/Against the Grain:
  • With the Grain: Understanding the text from the author's perspective.
  • Against the Grain: Identifying contradictions and gaps.

Note-Taking and Summarization

• Take notes consistently and use file naming conventions.
• Summary Writing:
  • Demonstrates comprehension of the material.
  • Start with bibliographic details.
  • Use short quotations and paraphrase understanding in your own words.

Rhetorical Reading

• Analyze the audience, purpose, and context of a text.
• Consider influences like histories, cultures, and individual experiences.

Organizational Techniques

• Mind Maps: Visual brainstorming of ideas.
• Synthesis Matrix: Organize research and show thematic overlaps across literature.
• Example provided with themes and article summaries.

Apps for Reading

• Provide digital annotation and reference management.
• Examples include MarginNote, Notability, and PDF annotation tools.

Reference Management Tools

• Essential for organizing academic sources.
• Options include EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley, and Papers.

Conclusion

• Active reading is crucial for writing a dissertation.
• Organize notes and follow strategies to improve reading comprehension and writing skills.
• Additional resources: Grad Pathways, Writing Center, Writing Across the Curriculum.

Questions and Answers

• How to improve summarization skills.
• Using word limits can help in concise summarization.
• Peer sharing and comparison of summaries can provide insights.