Methods

When writing my paper I began to get writers block. Each time this happened I would evaluate my feelings. How was I feeling at that moment? What was causing my writers block? I'd write down all of my thoughts and what I had written up until that point. By the time I had journaled this my head had been cleared. Evaluating what I was doing and my writing process helped me realize what I was originally writing about. I documented my feelings and each time I was getting blocked. It also helped me by writing down ideas for upcoming paragraphs while documenting.

Week 2 Rosenburg

SUMMARY

The name of the article says it all, "Reading Games: Strategies for Reading Scholarly Sources." The author, Karen Rosenburg uses personal details to explain to the reader the best ways to go about reading something that is ofter considered uninteresting. Giving tips and strategies to completely understand the writing from beginning to end. It really helps the reading by breaking down each piece of the article so that it all comes together in the end with complete understanding.

QUESTION 1

My initial strategy is to pay close attention to the introduction. Like Rosenburg describes, it gives away the entire article in as little words as possible. It also paints a sort of "Roadmap" for how the rest of the article is laid out. I think using any strategy whether good or bad can help your reading. It either helps you understand the reading better or leads you to better ways of strategy. Since we do these readings every week I would recommend it to friends. It clearly helps understand the piece and will defiantly help me for future readings.

QUESTION 2

I think the author is wanting the reader to enter a comfortable area. Viewing the reading as more of a conversation rather than a mandatory pain such as the dentist helps the reader calmly read it without getting lost. To me it is helpful because if you look at a long article as a simple conversation then it is easier to understand and won't seem as long.

My opinion on this article is very good. I found her personal descriptions of college and her past readings sort of inspiring in the way that it is helpful to how I look at articles now. The strategies given are helpful to how I look at the whole reading and breaking it down into pieces so that each piece is understood and noted.

First Assignment

Summary
       
      The article "Sponsors of Literacy" written by Deborah Brandt suggests that anyone with an education grows in literacy by learning from the people in their lives. Each person has a unique experience in literacy based on family, economics, and society. Brandt describes sponsors as "...powerful figures who bankroll events or smooth the way for initiates." and argues that sponsors can have a positive or even negative effect.

Questions for Discussion and Journaling
      
      Agreeing with Brandt, I believe that class and race have a huge impact on literacy sponsorship. Growing up, Branch was exposed to new technology as well as having the support of his wealthy parents when Lopez had to expose herself to literacy. Also, Branch had to opportunities being a white, wealthy young boy while Lopez was part of the one percent Hispanic community. Therefore, having money and being exposed to higher technology was only possible through race and class in these two cases.

Applying and Exploring Ideas

      Coming from a white middle class family, I believe that I was exposed to literacy much like Branch. Growing up around new technical advances as well as having supportive parents have lead me to become the positive sponsored person that I am. My literary sponsors not only include my family but also, teachers, and community members. While Lopez had to mainly teach herself literacy. I have always had access to the literacies I've needed or wanted.

      This reading proved to be very interesting in the point that the surrounding people in ones life are described as sponsors whether they have a positive or negative effect. I found the description of the sponsored being oblivious to literacy exposure very eye opening. The interviews among those of different class and race and comparing the literacy experiences was something I wouldn't have thought about if I had not read the article. Brandt truly opened my eyes to the exposure I have had to literacy due to my sponsors.