Reading & Writing in the Disciplines by David Rothman and Jilani Warsi

Summary

The transcript emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between reading and writing, highlighting that both are fundamentally about engaging with ideas. It underscores the importance of clear communication in writing and the necessity of reading to fuel the creative process. The discussion advocates for an integrative approach in education, where students are encouraged to not only comprehend texts but also respond to them, fostering a deeper understanding and personal investment in the material. The conversation also touches on the value of summary and response writing in college classes and the significance of students developing their own voice alongside critical reading skills.

Takeaways

• 📚 Reading and writing are both about processing ideas, with reading being the intake and writing being the output.
• 💡 Writing is about expressing ideas clearly in a one-way communication, without the immediate feedback present in spoken interactions.
• 🔗 The link between reading and writing is strong, as reading provides the ideas that writing expresses.
• 📈 Prolific writers are often also compulsive readers, indicating that reading fuels the ideas for writing.
• 📝 The classroom should integrate reading and writing to help students understand their interconnectedness.
• 📑 Traditional reading classes often miss opportunities for deeper engagement by stopping at comprehension questions.
• 📝 Summary and response writing are becoming more prevalent in education, as they require students to engage with the text on a deeper level.
• 🎓 College writing often involves summary and response, making it crucial for students to develop these skills early.
• 📋 Summary writing is a powerful tool for assessing reading comprehension, as it requires understanding of the original text.
• 🤔 Encouraging students to add their own voice to summaries and responses helps them take ownership of their writing and ideas.
• 📖 Writing assignments can motivate deeper reading and reflection, as students are more likely to engage with material they know they will write about.

Q & A

Why are reading and writing considered integrated skills?

Reading and writing are integrated because they both involve processing and expressing ideas. Reading is about receiving ideas, while writing is about producing them. Both skills require a deep engagement with content, and strong writers often develop their ideas from what they read.

What is the significance of clear communication in writing?

Clear communication in writing is essential because writing is a one-way form of communication. The reader cannot ask for clarification, so the writer must ensure their ideas are expressed precisely and clearly to avoid misunderstandings.

Why is it important for students to engage in both reading and writing in the classroom?

Engaging in both reading and writing helps students take ownership of ideas and enhance comprehension. Writing about what they read allows students to express their own viewpoints, making the learning experience more interactive and reflective.

How do traditional reading classes miss opportunities for deeper engagement?

Traditional reading classes often rely on comprehension questions, which don't encourage students to take ownership of the ideas in the text. Instead of just answering questions, students could benefit from summarizing and responding to the reading material, allowing for more personal engagement and critical thinking.

What role does summary and response writing play in college-level assignments?

Summary and response writing is a fundamental skill in college, especially in early-level classes. It allows students to demonstrate understanding of the material and incorporate their own perspectives, helping them develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

Why is summary writing considered a good test of reading comprehension?

Summary writing tests reading comprehension because it requires students to identify and clearly express the main ideas and supporting details of a text. If the summary is inaccurate, it shows that the student did not fully understand the original material.

How can writing assignments motivate deeper reading?

Writing assignments motivate deeper reading because students know they will need to use the ideas from the reading in their writing. This encourages them to pay closer attention to the text and engage with it actively, rather than passively answering multiple-choice questions.

Why do students often struggle with bringing their own voice into response papers?

Students often feel intimidated by the expertise of the authors they read, believing that only experts have the right to express strong opinions. This mindset can prevent them from adding their own voice to response papers, even when instructors encourage personal reflection.

What is the purpose of integrating group discussions in reading and writing assignments?

Group discussions help students generate ideas and deepen their understanding of the text. By discussing the material with peers, they can explore different perspectives, which makes their writing assignments more thoughtful and reflective.

How did the instructor address the issue of students summarizing instead of responding in writing assignments?

The instructor addressed this issue by explaining to the class that a response paper is not meant to be a summary. The students were told that the instructor already knew the content of the text and was interested in hearing their personal reactions and reflections, encouraging them to find and express their own voice.