Academic Reading and Writing
Students often think about reading as a process of word recognition. Indeed, when we
first learn to read, we focus on pronouncing and understanding the words so that they
make sense in a written context. However, soon after, we start reading in order to obtain
information. That is the time when reading comprehension becomes more important
than simple recognition of words on a paper; reading becomes more meaningful, and its
purpose becomes more diverse.
Depending on a genre, reading can be entertaining, informative, or imaginative. In order
for a reader to be entertained, informed, or taken to an imaginary land where he or she
can escape from reality, the reader must be able to understand the meaning. In other
words, reading process must include not only word recognition but also true
comprehension of the message that the author wants to convey to the reader.
Active Reading
In order to increase reading comprehension, reading must be become an active rather
than a passive process. Active reading not only improves general reading
comprehension, but it also increases content knowledge, literacy, engagement, and
overall academic achievement.
In the process of becoming active readers, students need to understand that it is not
enough to read an informative text only one time. Reading texts multiple times gives
readers a chance to process presented information, to create logical connections with
previous knowledge, and to retain information for longer periods of time. When practicing
active reading, it is important to adjust the reading speed to the type of read text and to
the individual purposes of reading. The crucial concept to understand is that the goal of
reading is comprehension, not the speed.
Segmenting the text facilitates better understanding and long-term retention. Sometimes
students think that the best way to read is to read everything from the first page to the
last page. This process works better when reading a novel or a short story, but even in
these cases breaking reading material into smaller segments and moving back and forth
between paragraphs facilitates better comprehension and deeper critical analysis of a
text.
Active readers understand that reading skill is not a talent that some people are born
with, and some people lack. Reading requires practice and application of effective text
analysis and comprehension strategies. Essentially, with continuous practice, anyone
can become a proficient reader. Active reading is a skills that helps students achieve
academic and professional success.
Critical Reading
The process of the connection between reading and writing requires not only active
reading, but also critical reading with an aspect of inquiry. This type of reading relates to
the process of responding to what was read and engaging with the author’s thoughts.
Critical reading is a skill that requires time and practice. In order to develop critical
reading skill, a reader must be able to “discover what is going on in the essay, to figure
out the writer’s reasons for shaping the essay in a particular way, to decide whether the
result works well or poorly- and why“ (Rosa and Escholz, 2015). This means that when
reading critically, we are not only trying to comprehend the meaning hidden behind the
words, but we are also evaluating the writing style and its efficacy.
A good strategy to employ in this process is to compare different writings on one topic
and then to evaluate why one them seems more convincing or engaging than the other.
In this process, we are not focusing on the ideas presented by each author, rather, we
are focusing on how the ideas are written and shaped by the author. Through this type of
analysis, the readers begin to appreciate the work and art that is incorporated in writing.
Thus, critical reading is a skill that students need in order to “truly engage and
understand the content of a piece of writing as well as the craft that shapes the writer’s
ideas into a presentable form” (Rosa and Escholz, 2015, p. 47). In this process, the
reader has an opportunity to evaluate the style of writing, rhetorical patters, organization
of ideas, as well as the efficacy of the word choice.
From Reading to Writing
As a Canadian-American writer Saul Bellow stated, “A writer is a reader moved to
emulation.” Emulation relates to a desire to be equal or even better than others, and
thus this quote highlights the fact that all writers start as readers. Through the process of
reading, writers become motivated to create something similar or better than what they
read.
By reading essays, stories, journalistic articles and other works of literature, students
have an opportunity to observe how the words and phrases are used in professional
writing. Having the opportunity to read and analyze the ideas presented in readings
enables students to learn from good examples and, consequently, to emulate
professional writers. Understanding ideas and opinions expressed in professional
essays can spark interesting ideas for students’ own essays, and it helps them discover
various ways other writers choose to organize their thoughts and supporting arguments.
Reading and expanding knowledge about different approaches to writing, as well as
varied rhetorical styles expand students’ writing repertoire, and, consequently, enable
them to find their own voice and utilize it in writing. When writers become familiar with
effective stylistic devices and diction that is used by other writers, they become more
adventurous writers willing to experiment with diverse stylistic devices in their own
writing.
