Reading a literature is a privilege, an opportunity to grow. Reading literature, I would think, is the basic underlying backbone of education. Professor Corrigan's essay "Active Reading of Literature" really broke down the basic rules for reading "actively" as opposed to "passively." Active reading includes engaging in conversation with the author. How does one do this? By following the principles of active reading laid out in the essay.
Corrigan breaks active reading down into five categories: preliminary reading, annotating the text, making note of familiar passages, commenting on characterizations, and making note of difficult passages. Each of these categories is then broken down into more subcategories. He explains, in detail, the importance of each. Take annotating the text, for example. I have just started doing this within the past few months. By taking notes, writing down questions, noting of my own thoughts and experiences related to the text, I am able to understand the literature better. Whether it be boring or exciting, I can now develop a deeper understand and appreciation for both the literature and the author.
"What you get out of what you read is determined by how you read." This statement couldn't be truer. If you would have told me this several months ago, I probably would have found a few reasons to argue against that statement, but now having put active reading into practice, I honestly get more out of what I read. I am pretty much like anyone else on Earth: good fiction stories capture my attention more than non-fiction. Everyone loves a thriller novel, for some romantic, and for others mystery. No one pays as much attention to the non-fiction section that seems to pour out endless facts. As one matures as a reader, however, he/she comes to appreciate the non-fiction section. I am currently working on it, and with each new book, I'm getting better. Non-fiction books are very popular in college. Active reading has helped me to get more out of these books so that I can perform better academically and so that my mind can grow.
interestingly enough, I often find students prefer non-fiction to fiction. and part of my job is to teach them how to read fiction in a way that they can enjoy. but your larger point still stands.
ReplyDeleteI like this: "reading . . . is an opportunity to grow."