English101LectureTwo

English 101: 

English 101 Lecture Two: How To Read An Essay

Slide 2: 

All the writers we read this semester are trying to follow similar steps in their writing processes to the ones that you are The same things you have to consider when writing an essay should be considered when reading someone else’s work

The House model: 

The House model Most essay have three parts, structured like a house:

Questions to ask when reading: 

Questions to ask when reading Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

Questions to ask when reading: 

Questions to ask when reading Who? Who is writing the essay? What assumptions can we make about them? What? When? Where? Why? How?

Questions to ask when reading: 

Questions to ask when reading Who? What? What is the essay? What is the title? What is the main point or thesis? What question is the author asking or trying to answer? When? Where? Why? How?

Questions to ask when reading: 

Questions to ask when reading Who? What? When? When was the essay written? Where? Why? How?

Questions to ask when reading: 

Questions to ask when reading Who? What? When? Where? Where was the article published? Why? How?

Questions to ask when reading: 

Questions to ask when reading Who? What? When? Where? Why? Why does the author hold the view he or she does, and what reasons are given to support that view? Why was it written? How?

Questions to ask when reading: 

Questions to ask when reading Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? How does the author support the essay’s points with evidence? How is the essay organized? How is the author’s point proven? How does the author handle counterarguments? How does the writer keep your attention?

Slide 11: 

Read every essay at least twice, once for the general sense, once to look for the answers to the preceding questions When reading offline, read with a pen in your hand – when reading online, jot down notes Consider how the situation in which the writer is writing determines both the genre and the language that writer uses Word choice, emphasis, and formatting are all important

The Diagnostic Essay (DB #s 5 and 6): 

The Diagnostic Essay (DB #s 5 and 6) Who wrote the essay? What assumptions can we make about the author? What does the title tell us, and how does it relate to the main point? If an argument is being made, what is its thesis? Where was this published, and what does it tell us about the intended audience? Why was it written? When was it written? How is it organized? How does the organization affect the content? What is your opinion on the subject, and why?