Reading and Writing Connections Karen Y Silvestri Which

Reading and Writing Connections Karen Y. Silvestri

Which came first?

How do you think reading and writing are connected?

READING WRITING Involves communication Very few people are speed readers; good readers take time with the text. Very few written works were perfect immediately; it is a process that takes work. involves reading slowly involves RE-reading involves careful organizing of thoughts involves RE-writing The reader reads to hear the message from the writer; the writer writes to convey a message to the reader.

ACTIVE READERS ACTIVE WRITERS Engage with the text Write a personal response Write in the margins Ask questions of the text/author Looks for the Main Idea (Thesis Statement) Looks for how the writer supports the Main Idea (Thesis Statement) Engage with other writer’s texts Analyze use of words Consider text structure Think about complex issues Provide a thesis statement (Main Idea) Provide supporting details for thesis statement (Main Idea)

What benefits do you think come from reading while writing and writing while reading?

BENEFITS OF READING BENEFITS OF WRITING Exposes readers to accurate spelling Allows writers to voice their thoughts Exposes readers to accurate forms of writing Provides writers with a vehicle to use their imaginations Shows readers how to write more complex sentences Gives writers a chance to engage in a conversation with other writers Invites readers to be more experimental in their own writing Aids writers in reading critically of other works Provides readers with motivation to engage with the text through their own writing Allows readers to hear the thoughts of others Motivates writers to engage with the texts they are reading

How Can YOU Connect Reading and Writing? Don’t just read other works by other authors; engage in communication with them through writing. • Consider the topic before beginning to read. Can you connect the topic with your own life? What are your thoughts about the topic? Write these down before reading. • Keep a journal. This allows you a place to voice your thoughts about a reading before and after you read the piece. • Experiment. Change the characters. Change the ending. Change where and when the story takes place. • Study the format. How did the writer organize their thoughts in the article or story? Would you have organized it differently? • Write in the margins. This is called annotations. While reading, jot down notes and questions you have in the margins. Highlight unfamiliar words. Draw a picture.

Let’s look at how one writer organized an essay based on our topic of getting a college degree. Can you spot her thesis statement (main idea)? Can you spot the three reasons she came up with to support her thesis statement?

I work two jobs to take care of my family. Neither job pays very much money, and I have to work both of them in order to pay the bills and put food on the table. A friend suggested I go back to school. I couldn’t see how that would help me, but then I started thinking about it. Getting a college degree would help me build a better life for me and my children because I could get a better job, be a better parent, and feel better about myself. With a college degree, I could find a better job. A degree would help me find a less boring job. In addition, I would have more options when seeking employment. I would be able to work just one job instead of two or three, and I would make more money. If I had a college degree, I could be a better parent. I would be able to spend more time with my children because I would not have to work two jobs. I could also get them some things they want because I would have more money. Once I have a good job, we could live in a better place. Finally, my having a college degree would make me a good role model for them. Having a college degree would help me to feel better about myself. When you get respect from others, it makes you feel good inside. Also, I would respect myself because I achieved an important goal, and it would encourage me to go on to achieve other goals. Most would agree that finishing my college degree may not be easy, but as you can see, it would be worth it. My children will be happier because I can provide for them and be a good role model for them. Most importantly, finishing this goal will make me feel good about myself which will reflect on my role as a parent. So, what am I waiting for? I’m going to look into getting a college degree today and start building a better future for me and my children!

I work two jobs to take care of my family. Neither job pays very much money, and I have to work both of them in order to pay the bills and put food on the table. A friend suggested I go back to school. I couldn’t see how that would help me, but then I started thinking about it. Getting a college degree would help me build a better life for me and my children because I could get a better job, be a better parent, and feel better about myself. With a college degree, I could find a better job. A degree would help me find a less boring job. In addition, I would have more options when seeking employment. I would be able to work just one job instead of two or three, and I would make more money. If I had a college degree, I could be a better parent. I would be able to spend more time with my children because I would not have to work two jobs. I could also get them some things they want because I would have more money. Once I have a good job, we could live in a better place. Finally, my having a college degree would make me a good role model for them. Having a college degree would help me to feel better about myself. When you get respect from others, it makes you feel good inside. Also, I would respect myself because I achieved an important goal, and it would encourage me to go on to achieve other goals. Most would agree that finishing my college degree may not be easy, but as you can see, it would be worth it. My children will be happier because I can provide for them and be a good role model for them. Most importantly, finishing this goal will make me feel good about myself which will reflect on my role as a parent. So, what am I waiting for? I’m going to look into getting a college degree today and start building a better future for me and my children!

A friend suggested I go back to school. I couldn’t see how that would help me, but then I started thinking about it. Getting a college degree would help me in several ways. With a college degree, I could find a better job. If I had a college degree, I could be a better parent. Having a college degree would help me to feel better about myself. So, what am I waiting for? I’m going to look into getting a college degree today and start building a better future for me and my children! They writer could also write a simple paragraph instead of a full essay.

Paragraph 1: Thesis Statement: Getting a college degree will help me build a better life for me and my children because I could get a better job, be a better parent, and feel better about myself. Paragraph 2: Support 1 Topic Sentence: With a college degree, I can find a better job. 1. Get a less boring job 2. Have more options for jobs 3. Make more money and work one job, not two Paragraph 3: Support 2 Topic Sentence: If I had a college degree, I could be a better parent. 1. Spend more time with them because I don’t have to work two jobs. 2. Get them some things they want 3. Live in a better place 4. Be a good role model for them Paragraph 4: Support 3 Topic Sentence: Having a college degree helps me to feel better about myself. 1. Get respect from others 2. Respect myself because I achieved an important goal 3. Go on to achieve other goals Paragraph 5: Conclusion: Most would agree that finishing my college degree will not be easy, but as you can see, it will be worth it. The Roadmap for this student’s essay started out with a main idea and 3 support points!

After reading the student’s essay, can you take your three reasons for getting a college degree and form a roadmap for an essay? What would you do the same? What might you do differently?

Thank you for your time! Happy reading! Happy writing!

References • Writing to Read: Evidence for How Writing Can Improve Reading, a new report from Carnegie Corporation of New York published by the Alliance for Excellent Education. • Writing and Reading Working Together, an occasional paper from Robert J. Tierney, Rebekah Caplan, Linnea Ehri, Mary K. Healy, and Mary Hurdlow. August, 1988 in Writing and Reading: Collaboration in the Classroom? Edited by Anne Haas Dyson. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. • Connecting Reading and Writing in College EFL Courses by Jui-min Tsai, Ohio State University