How to Read

whiteman

This may seem like an absurd entry. Everyone taking this course knows how to read, don't they? Yes. But simply reading as opposed to reading critically are very different processes. The first requires our eyes to pass over the words and understand the information. We do this when we read newspapers, magazines, memos, and many novels. The second, however, reading critically, is a much more demanding process.

Consider how most of us would read a love letter. First of all, most are not going to read it only once. More likely we will read it many times, luxuriating in the words, considering the nuances of each word and phrase, trying to discern the true depth of meaning. We are trying to tune in with the author to know exactly what he or she was feeling, and to know exactly what they were trying to communicate.

Good reading is like that. Think of the works in this text as a collection of love stories, love poems, and love plays. Corny, perhaps—but in some way they are just that. Most of the works assigned are not to be read only once. Some can be understood the first time through, but require other readings to gain a sensitivity to the artistry and techniques of the author. Other works may be quite frustrating and require a few readings simply to understand what is happening in the story or poem. In either case, don't be frustrated if the questions you are asked to respond to don't even seem related to the work you read. Unless I made a real error and asked a question about Hamlet when it should have been about \"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,\" you may need to reread the work. But that's good. This type of reading helps us look more deeply at events, relationships, and meaning in our own lives, which, in case you don't already know, is one of the real values of studying literature.

Some Hints:

·Read with a pencil in hand. Take notes in the margins. Underline. Carry on your own dialogue with the text. If you don't understand why a character did something, write Why? in the margin.
·Keep your Reading Journal handy. The brief annotations you make in the margin of the text can be explored more fully. Write down all of the questions you have. Write down what you learned from this story, or what you think is most significant.
·The more you can interact with the text, the more you will ultimately understand.
·At the very least, answer the questions for each assignment. It is from this bank of questions that I will build most of the midterm and final exams.