Chapter 46: Writing About Texts

This chapter guides us to read the text actively and pull out the main idea from within the written text. Text can represent any assortment of works such as essay, periodical articles, reports, books and it even includes visuals like advertisement and photographs. First step for reading actively to pull out the main ideas of the text is to read several time till we get the full meaning of the text and then annotating with understanding and question. Pencil is the best way to write the annotation as it can be erased and replace the marked annotation any time. While writing annotation we have to familiarize with the features and structure of text, we should know what kind of text we are reading and find out the main theme of the text. Things that are confusing should be noted in details and use the critical thinking to visualize it. After annotation we should try to outline the text according to the view of the author. Main idea of the text should be kept into mind while plotting an outline. Usually main ideas of the text are found in the beginning of the writing and sometime at the end or in the middle. Author’s thesis should be presented in our own words. The final step is to put together all the understanding from reading and rereading, annotation and the brief outline and generating a summary. In summary main idea of the text are presented in simple, brief and accurate method. Figuring out the main idea of author is the primary part of the summary, and then we divide the text into most important and least important ideas. Summary should be short so we have to sort the important idea and include them.

Even though I read the texts several time I have the habit of keeping the page clean. Which mean I do not mark anything or write anything on my books. I used to skip the annotation part and jump to outline part. This chapter guides me to the importance of annotation. I am going to write the annotation from now onward before I do my summary.  I am also going to write the brief outline of the text I will be doing and combine it with annotation and sort the important part to get the summary.

Freewriting Exercise:

Freewriting is a writing exercise where we write for certain time (10, 15 or 20 minutes) continuously without any stop for spell check, grammatical mistake or to correct any incorrect sentence.  We can write whatever we want; whatever comes to our mind but it does not mean writing without thinking and being careless. We have to be careful and thoughtful while writing, the only thing we have to ignore is the mistake that we make even after we try. Trying to make everything write in the beginning leads us to failure which might make us give up writing. Trying to think of the fancy words to use in sentence and worrying about the correctness of the sentence is a terrible burden for the writers. Freewriting exercises help us to get use to the process of editing as we go and as we go, we are suppose to use simple sentences. At first it might be difficult but after enough practice we will get use to it.

Usually in most of the classes we are strictly watched for spelling and other mistakes and the teachers often suggest us to go over the writing as many time as we can to correct mistake. However, after reading “Freewriting Exercise”, I am surprised that we can put together anything we think of about the topic. I can tell that after few practice of these freewritings we will be able to produce more sensible sentence at one.    

Introduction

Hi everyone,

My name is Sujan Maskey and I am form Nepal. This is my fourth year in JC and hopefully last semester. I am doing major in Business Administration with finance as my major but recently I have changed my mind and decided to take accounting as my major and obtain CPA degree. I am 27 year old and not working at all that makes my parents my sponsor. As I am an average student and English is my second language I find little difficulties in my studies.  I have to go through study material at least two times to understand it properly. I have a bad habit of doing things at the last moment which made me drop from this class last semester; I was not able to submit this introduction assignment in time which made me “no show”.  This time I will work hard to change my habit and try my best to complete the assignments in time.

I was planning to take my English classes in University but what I found out is, it is required to complete my ENG 1Acourse to get to university. So, I am planning to take ENG 100 this semester and take 1A in summer and got to university this fall. I am anxious to finish my studies as soon as possible because it’s getting late for me to become independent form my parents, I cannot expect my parents help for long, I have to do things on my own.

Living in United States is completely different experience for me. At first when I did not have a ride and was not acquainted with the places, it was difficult for me to adjust but now I am getting use to. Living in US has taught me a lot. The most important thing I have learnt is to become independent which is uncommon in Nepalese society. Most of the young Nepalese are reliant on their parents. I want to discontinue this trend by finishing my studies and going back to Nepal and getting a better job and securing my future. Although its little late but it’s never too late.