Mindful Reading (Maren Nield)

Lesson Prep

Objective: Students will be introduced to Unit 1: Opinion Editorial (Op-Ed). We will discuss the central tenants of mindful reading, including a mindful awareness of who writers are, writer exigence and Kairos, writer purpose, rhetorical strategy, and audience. We will build on these strategies throughout the semester. This lesson also serves as exposure to analysis and visual rhetoric.

Student Preparation:

• Read Syllabus
• Mindful Writing Chapter 12
• Y Search Module 5

Instructor Preparation:

• Print Syllabus
• Power Point Presentation

Lesson Presentation

Rush Write: (3-5 minutes)

• • Question: Think about specific books or images, situations in which you read or learned to read, people who taught you to read, people who encouraged you to read, people who discouraged it, and your early attitudes and practices and struggles. Who, throughout your life, encouraged or discouraged your reading? How so?
  • Discuss: Pair and Share

Mindful Reading: Chapter 12 – Reading Rhetorically (15-20 minutes)

• • • Mindfulness Definition: What is mindfulness? (Call on 2-3 students)
      • “When we ‘think about our own thinking’ or when we’re ‘consciously aware’ of how we are learning and what we’re hoping to get from what we learn.” – Mindful Writing, Chapter 5
      • Critical Thinking – Activity: POD Riddles
    • Rhetoric Definition: What is Rhetoric? (Call on 2-3 students)
      • “The study and art of effective communication.” – Mindful Writing, Chapter 6, p. 64
      • “The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the exploitation of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.” – Rhetoric, Oxford English Dictionary
      • Negative vs. Positive
      • For example, during World War II, advertisements were designed to convince citizens to either join the military, help out at home, purchase war bonds, etc.
    • Captain America YouTube clip

Mindful Awareness: Reading Rhetorically (p. 184) (for Captain America Scene)

• • • • Write on Board
• Who writers are (rhetors)
• Why they wrote when they did (exigence and Kairos)
• What they hope readers will feel or think or do (their purpose)
• What rhetorical strategies they use when they write (genre + ACES)
• And how they have constructed an experience for a specific kind of reader (audience)

Surface Reading vs. In-Depth Reading

• • Iceberg Metaphor: Surface Reading is the tip of the iceberg, In-depth is mindful understanding of material.
    • Now, that’s not to say surface reading is always bad. You should develop the ability to glance over an article, research study, or book and gain a brief understanding of the material.
  • Class Activity: Surface Reading
    • “How America Treats Its Own Children” –Annie Lowry, The Atlantic2018
    • ..\Semester 2\Writing 150 Winter 2019\Winter 2019\Unit 1 – Opinion Editorial\OpEd.HowAmericaTreatsItsOwnChildren.docx
      • Two minutes to look over the article.
      • What can you tell me about it?
      • Who, what, when, why?
    • Homework (3-5 minutes)
      • Mindful WritingPrologue and Chapter 1
      • “How America Treats Its Own Children” –Annie Lowry, The Atlantic2018
        • In-Depth Reading: Pick 2-3 Strategies
        • Come prepare to discuss the article and your strategies in class
          • Preread
          • Brake for the unknown
          • Make marginal notes
          • Skip
          • Draw pictures
          • Summarize
          • Self-Monitor
          • Read Disciplinary Texts
          • Write your Reading