Bridging the Gap from Reading to Writing

The goal-directed nature of reading-to-write  Reading-to-write makes a special demand for critical literacy because … it brings these two processes [reading and writing] into strong interaction.

 The reading process is guided by the need to produce a text of one’s own. The reader as writer is expected to manipulate information and transform it to his or her own purposes.  And the writing process is complicated by the need to shape one’s own goals in response to the ideas or even the purposes of another writer.  Linda Flower et. al. Reading-to-Write (6, 1990)

A look at my own read to write process  Begins with close reading (and re-reading)

 and then I take notes of what I think is important from the reading

 Next I sort relevant notes from multiple sources (quotes or information) around key topics I will discuss in my paper. One “evidence sheet” for each topic.

 Finally, as I write on those key topics, I pull relevant quotes and information from these evidence sheets.

Moving from Reading to Writing: “The Story of An Hour”--linklink

Begin with close reading

Provide (or find) an “Essay Question” and Brainstorm for Reasons Find Primary Supports for the Thesis Declare a Focused Thesis Analyze/Understand a Writing Prompt tm

Brainstorming for reasons example Topic/Subject: Marriage Essay Question: What does the story communicate about marriage? Tentative Thesis: Chopin in her story communicates that marriage is a “joy that kills.”

Sample Brainstorming

Mini-outline sheets  Work on defining and phrasing of Primary Supports  Early work on what will be transition sentences for Body paragraphs  claim/thesis + reason

Developing Secondary Support: Finding Textual Evidence Develop Specific Secondary Support for Each Primary Support Find Primary Supports for the Thesis Declare a Focused Thesis Analyze/Understand a Writing Prompt es/Support.htm

Textual Evidence Sheets

How Evidence Sheets Work  Each Evidence Sheet focuses on a SINGLE Primary Support  Restate the Essay Question and the Thesis  Write out the CLAIM + REASON (Primary Support)  E.g. Chopin communicates that marriage is a joy that kills because the view out the window reveals a freedom and life missing in her marriage.  What evidence IN THE TEXT is there that shows/proves that what she sees out the window reveals a freedom and life absent in her marriage life? On one side write the quote exactly word for word On the other side explain how the quote is showing or proving the reason to be true or likely

Writing from Evidence Sheets  Evidence sheets become sources of selected textual support that students can access as they build supporting paragraphs

It’s a messy process