Reading and Writing

"The Slowest Reader” by Benjamin Percy

Benjamin Percy realized that the best way to read as a writer is to read slowly. Reading too fast as he did in the past only made him more anxious. He did not internalize what he read. He could not remember which author wrote what. He sometimes used phrases that he did not remember where he heard or read them from. When he decided to read slowly, he realized it gave him time to analyze and understand the text better as well as the writer’s style and intention.

In my view, the slowest reader means to read to understand the text rather than the goal of finishing the novel quickly. It is a matter of quality over quantity. Being a slow reader means reading the text more than one time until you can retell the plot offhand. Being a slow reader and reading as a writer will help a lot in this class. First, slow reading increases the understanding of the text and reading also expands our knowledge and skills. By understanding how various authors write, I will also gain motivation and tap into my writing potential.

“Writing an Essay: Here are Ten Effective Tips” by Joe Bunting

First, I like that the author emphasizes writing for fun instead of focusing on external rewards. I think this will help me to relax more in my writing process. So, instead of worrying that my writing will turn out bad, I will express more creativity and authenticity by writing for the sake of writing.

The second idea shared by the author which I find important is the part about writing five original sentences. The author made writing appear easy and I felt that it is a great tip to start writing even when you are unsure about if you have enough content. Henceforth, I will be using this process in my writing. I like that it outlines the structure of an essay where we have the introduction, the main argument, the supporting points, and the conclusion. I think it will be easier to build upon the five original sentences and this will help me overcome feeling stuck during my writing.