Purposeful Reading Workshop

21 February 2008

A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story. 'What's it about?' he asked. 'I don't know,' she replied. 'I can't read.' Dr Antonia Chandra
21 February 2008 Purposeful Reading Workshop 2

Why start writing before reading?

To find out what you need: Find out by working out Rs (Lecturer Readers) expectations Find out by planning the overall argument and argument strategies

21 February 2008

Purposeful Reading Workshop

21 February 2008

Purposeful Reading Workshop

Find out what you need (Example)

Essay Q : How does writing promote learning in science?
(Module: Understanding Writing)

Write; discover what I need

[Describe the cognitive (mental) activities occurring in writing (e.g. articulating thoughts)]

Write; discover what I need: Explain/describe the cognitive (mental) activities occurring in writing (e.g. articulating thoughts). Relate each cognitive activity to science learning (e.g.
discovering what I do not quite know)

Read Look for info, evidence, supporting voice Write, think Discover what I need to meet Rs expectations
[What theory justifies view of writing as cognitive activity?]
21 February 2008 Purposeful Reading Workshop

Read to find out

[What are other mental activities in writing?]

Identify the cognitive skills involved in learning science (e.g. seeing relationships). Show how writing plays a facilitating role in developing these skills. etc.
21 February 2008 Purposeful Reading Workshop 5

A/P Antonia Chandra

Purposeful Reading Workshop

21 February 2008

Try this

Find out what you need (Example)

Look for the required information in the reading

Essay Q : How does writing promote learning in science?

(Module: Understanding Writing)

What I need to do :
Explain/describe the cognitive (mental) activities occurring in writing (e.g. articulating thoughts). Relate each cognitive activity to science learning (e.g.
discovering what I do not quite know)

Identify the cognitive skills involved in learning science (e.g. seeing relationships). Show how writing plays a facilitating role in developing these skills.
Search the reading text for knowledge that can serve any one of these needs.
21 February 2008 Purposeful Reading Workshop 7 21 February 2008 Purposeful Reading Workshop 8

Why start writing before reading?

To find out what you need: By working out Rs (Lecturer Readers) expectations By planning the overall argument and argument strategies

Find out by planning overall argument

Example Q: How does writing promote learning in science? Argument plan:
Identify what thinking is involved in learning science (e.g. noting relationships) what ways of reasoning, what attitudes to knowledge, what outcomes Show how writing leads to these ways of thinking and outcomes in learning science. Show by

21 February 2008

Purposeful Reading Workshop

21 February 2008

Purposeful Reading Workshop

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Find out what you need

Plan overall argument

Discover need

Q: How does writing promote learning in science? Argument plan:

Identify what thinking is involved in learning science
(e.g. noting relationships) what ways of reasoning, what

attitudes to knowledge, what outcomes

Look for the required information in the Reading

Show how writing leads to these ways of thinking and outcomes in learning science. Show by Search the text for the required knowledge to carry out this plan.

21 February 2008

Purposeful Reading Workshop

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21 February 2008

Purposeful Reading Workshop

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A/P Antonia Chandra

Purposeful Reading Workshop

21 February 2008

Be in control during reading

Sideline what does not serve your argument goal Think; transform book knowledge to serve your argument goal Attend to details only if you think they may serve your goal. Try this: Can I use this?
How does writing promote learning in science?
teacher resistance to grading
stacks of papers [Para 3, Introduction]

Purposeful reading for your own essay question

Study your essay question (or other task) Write down Rs expectations/requirements Plan your argument (strategy/acts) Write down plan/strategies & what is needed from the course readings to execute the plan Read to find the required knowledge; plan how you will use it.

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Purposeful Reading Workshop

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21 February 2008

Purposeful Reading Workshop

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Purposeful Reading
Set writing (rhetorical/argument) goals to direct reading Be in control of your reading Dont let the readings control you

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Purposeful Reading Workshop

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21 February 2008

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A/P Antonia Chandra