How to Read Like a Writer POSTS

How to Read Like A Writer: Summary 

In the essay Read Like a Writer, Mike Bunn explains the basics of reading like a writer. One must really pay close attention to the way authors write their pieces of work. Also, this will help the reader decide if they like or dislike the way the author is writing a piece, and if the reader does like that style, it can be replicated in their own writing. If not, the reader will know what types of writing they are not comfortable reading, and in turn will write according to their own preferences. Bunn also introduces the idea of using quotes at the beginning of a piece of work. Some people find that using a quote is more effective with impressing their readers, but it is not a guarantee. In this section, Mike describes the differences between RLW and normal reading. Normal reading consists of the reader barely scratching the surface of a piece for information. RLW is obviously a much deeper process. When RLW, one must really think about what the author is conveying to the audience, how this information is being conveyed, and what one can do to write like the author. Bunn acknowledges that “for most college students RLW is a new way to read, and it can be difficult to learn at first” (75). He tells his readers that learning how to RLW will improve their writing skills, and that most college instructors assume students have this skill, though most do not. Also, because students have written papers before in their educational career, students have an advantage when RLW. Bunn states, “All of your previous writing experiences – inside the classroom and out – can contribute to your success with RLW” (75). This is because students have a basic knowledge of how to write, and how to see the way in which an author is writing. The Author uses several past students to explain some of the most vital parts of RLW. The most common suggestion was for readers to examine the context around the assignment and the piece that must be read. The reader must know the author’s purpose for the piece of writing and the intended audience for the piece. The Author states that readers must consider the genre of a text before reading. By genre, he means poem, article, essay, etc. One must also pay close attention to the type of text being read. In conclusion the essay was about the benefits of RLW. 

 
Cite: Mike Bunn (2017) How to Read Like a Writer This Essay is a chapter in Writing Spaces: Reading on Writing, Volume 2 a peer reviewed open textbook series for then writing class room. http://writingspace.org/essays