Professor Joshua Belknap | Co Req ML | FALL 2024

9/4/24 Questions for “How to Read Like a Writer”

Please create a Perusall account and read “How to Read Like a Writer” by Mike Bunn and write a response to the questions below. I prefer it if you respond to this post directly, but if you choose you may create a new post.

  1. What did you think of the piece? Did you like it? Or not? Why. Explain! (Don’t worry my feelings won’t be hurt! Be honest!)
  2. What tips or ideas did you learn about how to Read Like a Writer? How might you apply it (use it) when you read?
  3. Can you explain what you think the author means when he says, “When you read like a writer, you are trying to figure out how the text you are reading was constructed so that you learn how to ‘build’ one for yourself” (74). Be specific. Share a personal example, if possible.
  4. Let’s think about the “context” of this text. What is the author (Mike Bunn’s) purpose in writing this piece? Who is his intended audience?
  5. What is the genre of this text? Its okay if you don’t know! Just give it a shot! (essay, article, poem, etc.)
  6. What did you notice about HOW this text was written? Choose one observation!

4 Comments

  1. Maria

    1-I really enjoyed it. It helped me to understand new ways to read and comprehend texts. Having a good understanding of our reading can help us make our writing process easier.

    2-One tip that I learn is knowing what kind of writing I will be asked to complete to help me to prioritize what kind of texts I should read. This is an effective way since knowing what I want to write will give me a perspective or an idea of what type of topics I should investigate and read about.

    3-When the author says “When you read like a writer, you are trying to figure out how the text you are reading was constructed so that you learn how to ‘build’ one for yourself,” he is referring to the process of studying the text and understanding the structure, that way we can come up with ideas that can create and improve our writing.

    4-The purpose of the author is to help his readers to improve their ability to read and comprehend texts, understanding the structure, details, and process of writing, so that way we can become effective writers.

    5-I’m not completely sure, but I think the genre can be instructional essay.

    6- I noticed that the author gives instructions and examples to help the reader to understand better and to apply new skills to our writing.

  2. Alejandra

    What did you think of the piece? Did you like it? Or not? Why. Explain! (Don’t worry my feelings won’t be hurt! Be honest!)

    I think this piece of writing does a good job emphasizing the practice of reading like a writer. I appreciate how the writer explains how crucial it is to carefully examine the details we read and specifically paying attention to the strategies such as starting an essay with a quote, use of vocabulary to describe things, and the choice of words to target an specific audience.

    What tips or ideas did you learn about how to Read Like a Writer? How might you apply it (use it) when you read?

    Definitely one major tip I take away from this piece of writing is to learn more about the context of any writing before diving into the text. This tip helps gather ideas as to what the text will be covering and gives you a better view of the setting and overall content the writing will be discussing about.

    Can you explain what you think the author means when he says, “When you read like a writer, you are trying to figure out how the text you are reading was constructed so that you learn how to ‘build’ one for yourself” (74). Be specific. Share a personal example, if possible.

    Here Mike is making a great argument to describe the meaning of reading like a writer by stating a comparison to an architect or a carpenter. I think what Mike is saying here is that every time we read something, we should break it down, annotate, deconstruct the writing to not only for our own benefit understanding the content but also help us identify the author’s writing techniques used in the text. For example, every time I read a text I make sure to underline and highlight word choice and specific articles used or quotes cited that focus on the purpose and target of the writing itself.

    Let’s think about the “context” of this text. What is the author (Mike Bunn’s) purpose in writing this piece? Who is his intended audience?

    The audience here is for a student in general who is learning the skill of reading like a writer. Mike does a good job describing the several techniques one should focus when reading a text to help us develop our own writings at a more organized level.

    What is the genre of this text? Its okay if you don’t know! Just give it a shot! (essay, article, poem, etc.)

    I think this is an essay because Mike constantly mentions in the text and because it cites other authors and stories.

    What did you notice about HOW this text was written? Choose one observation!

    One thing I notice from this text is that the author speaks directly to the reader like an instructor going over techniques of how to improve our reading and writing skills. The title of every topic in a form of question also make an impact to the text in general because it breaks down the text further.

  3. Angela Nesmy

    1.What did you think of the piece? Did you like it? Or not? Why. Explain! (Don’t worry my feelings won’t be hurt! Be honest!)

    -I really like this piece, at first it might seem boring because the author, Mike, is sharing about his life. But, as I delve more into this piece, I found out a lot of helpful tips and gained knowledge that I could apply to myself as I read.

    2.What tips or ideas did you learn about how to Read Like a Writer? How might you apply it (use it) when you read?

    -Out of all the tips or ideas that I learned, my favorite would be knowing how to Read Like a Writer. With this tip, I will be able to understand the piece I’m reading more better and as I read in the perspective of the writer I can come up with the decisions that the writer didn’t go for. And that’s what makes reading interesting, finding out the reason as why the writer didn’t come up with this or that decision.

    3.Can you explain what you think the author means when he says, “When you read like a writer, you are trying to figure out how the text you are reading was constructed so that you learn how to ‘build’ one for yourself” (74). Be specific. Share a personal example, if possible.

    -The author, Mike, is trying to say that it is important to know how a piece was put together, in order for us readers to understand the underlying message or insights of the writer itself. It is crucial to know all these things for us to know the techniques and strategies, so that we could apply it as we build our own piece. For instance, every time I read I try to analyze how a paragraph was made, and I always come up with a question like “What urge the writer to come up with this?”. I try to look for other options that the writer could come up to see a different perspective. I also observes how the writer keeps the flow of the writing, through this method I could enhance my skills in writing effectively.

    4.Let’s think about the “context” of this text. What is the author (Mike Bunn’s) purpose in writing this piece? Who is his intended audience?

    -The overall purpose of this text is to guide readers on how to analyze and understand a piece in a position of a writer. Through this idea we are able to appreciate the fundamental of reading, and comprehend deeper. This piece is intended for students, readers, and aspiring writers who aspires to come up with a flawless and effective construction of their own piece.

    5.What is the genre of this text? Its okay if you don’t know! Just give it a shot! (essay, article, poem, etc.

    -The genre of this text is Essay. It is repeatedly mentioned in the text.

    6.What did you notice about HOW this text was written? Choose one observation!

    -One thing I noticed about how this text was written is the use of information while also applying it to real life situation. We may find the introduction irrelevant to this piece as it doesn’t actually play a big role in the text being about a writer. But when it was explained by the writer it is actually worth taking the space and our time. The use of language and approach hooked us all to know more about this piece.

  4. Sophia Basone

    What did you think of the piece? Did you like it? Or not? Why. Explain! (Don’t worry my feelings won’t be hurt! Be honest!)

    • I like this piece because I found it really interesting how the author points out the need to really look at details, like starting with a quote, picking the right words, and aiming them at the right audience.

    What tips or ideas did you learn about how to Read Like a Writer? How might you apply it (use it) when you read?

    • Some tips i learned about “How to read like a writer was asking myself questions while reading and thinking like the author. I will definitely apply this tips while I read

    Can you explain what you think the author means when he says, “When you read like a writer, you are trying to figure out how the text you are reading was constructed so that you learn how to ‘build’ one for yourself” (74). Be specific. Share a personal example, if possible.

    • Mike Bunn’s idea of reading like a writer involves analyzing how a text is crafted—such as its structure, dialogue, and imagery—to learn how to apply those techniques in your own writing. By understanding these elements, you can improve your own writing by emulating successful strategies observed in other texts. For example, if you notice a novel’s gripping opening, you might use similar techniques to create an engaging start in your own work.

    Let’s think about the “context” of this text. What is the author (Mike Bunn’s) purpose in writing this piece? Who is his intended audience?

    • Mike Bunn wrote this piece to show readers how to analyze texts to understand writing techniques better. His audience includes people who want to improve their writing skills, students studying writing, and anyone interested in learning more about how writing works.

    What is the genre of this text? Its okay if you don’t know! Just give it a shot! (essay, article, poem, etc.)

    • This piece is like guidebook genre. It’s a non-fiction piece that gives practical tips and advice on analyzing texts to improve your own writing.

    What did you notice about HOW this text was written? Choose one observation!

    • This piece is very straightforward and easy to follow. The author uses examples and specific techniques to help readers understand how to analyze texts and apply what they learn to their own writing. The tone is informative and supportive, aimed at guiding readers through the process of reading with a writer’s mindset.

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