By stating that we are already authors I think Mike Bunn means that we all write pieces of literature whether it be simple or not, therefore we must have a sense of what an author is feeling when something is written. By understanding that we are authors we can truly learn/ take in whatever points we’re reading. In doing so, as authors we can also take interest in a text assigned to us which allows us as students to be able to understand any piece of literature we have to study or read. When writing, this benefits us because as an author we would put ourselves in the shoes of our readers and make sure our point is being sent across in order for it to make sense and seem intriguing. In any of my literature pieces I use imagery and context to give the reader an understanding of what is being portrayed in my texts, assignments, tweets, emails, etc. This allows for them to remain intrigued and not have to keep rereading whatever I wrote to understand my point. This expertise would help in my college reading/ writing career because as a student we need to be able to fully understand an assignment but also be understood when completing an assignment. A technique I would try based on Bunn’s article would be to question why a story, or any piece of writing, is written the way it is. This is because when I get confused or lost I blame myself for not being able to focus, which then gets me unmotivated to read a text. Questioning the way the author writes a text would probably allow me to understand a text better compared to just doubting my reading skills. By questioning the author’s writing I can also think about a different way I would write it to understand the text in a better way, or realize what the author is trying to portray with the amount of, what seems to be, unnecessary details.
Category: Unit 1
Homework 1.2
Mike Bunn says ”you’re already an author” I think Bunn is encouraging readers to approach reading as if they were the author. Authors don’t just write without thinking about what to write. When I was in high school, my English teacher asked me to write a story based on a random picture she posted on the smart board. It was one of the most challenging tasks I had ever done because it required me to write without any prior planning. However, good writing requires careful planning, consideration of the target audience and mindful word choices. For example, when you write a comic book, the writer must come up with characters, come up with creative ideas and make choices. Similarly, when reading, the reader should pause to digest the information and understand the author’s message. It is important to reflect on how the book or article relates to you and to identify what you like or dislike about it. When we write or read, we are expressing ourselves and sharing our thoughts and ideas. Therefore, it is essential to understand the author’s perspective and what message they are trying to send out.
I text almost every day. It could be a message to my manager telling her that I am not available to work, or sending emails to tutors to get extra help. I mentioned in class that I enjoy trading as a hobby. To be a successful trader, I need to express myself after I finish a trade and evaluate whether I made the right choice. My existing communication skills will be useful in my college reading and writing, as I can easily reach out to my professors to express my concerns regarding a topic that I am currently studying.
I noticed that Mike Bunn repeatedly used the word “you” in his article, which suggests that he is TALKING to the reader directly, creating a sense of engagement and connection. I think I will use this technique in my own writing as it is a great way to establish a connection with my audience.
HW 1.2
When Mike Bunn said “You are already an author” this was alluding towards how we read like a writer and really we have an upper hand on that as writers. I write my goals every week on what I want to succeed and achieve in that week. If I am unable to achieve that goal I write on how to overcome my issues of not completing those goals and how I can do better and improve. Existing expertise can help me throughout my reading and writing career. It may be as simple as brain memory and learning the correct usage of words and phrases. But I believe the best existing expertise that can me out through my college writing and reading career is adaptability. I can adapt to new writing and reading skills very easy as well as pick up on some old ones that I had forgot previously. Adapting to what kind of text I am reading and breaking it down to digest it is also a great key to have leading into college.
Something commonly that happens to me when reading is getting tripped up while reading and not being confused what I am reading at that moment. Once that happens it takes me a while to pick back up on what had happened in the text. A helpful thing I learned from Mike Bunn that could help me in my own writing is looking closely at the writing and if I manage to trip up on something I would try getting a sense of what could have tripped me up. This could save the reader of the text from suffering through the same issues I suffer with. This also helps me when writing to not confuse the reader and stay on track with the topic of the story.
