Strong Reading
As defined in "Ways of Reading: An Anthology for Writers", "strong reading" occurs when a reader cooperatively reads, thinks, and writes about a topic. This happens when the reader takes what is given in the writing, but also infers and relates the material to his/her own life. This form of reading is encouraged because it allows the reader to grasp the material and makes it easy to comprehend questions, as presented on a formal test. This is one of the reasons that students form different conclusions when asked the same question. One student, who was adopted after jumping around foster cares, may have a different view on the nature/nurture debate than the generic child that was born into a wealthy family. I believe our family and experience define us as individuals, and "strong reading" helps bring out the variety of inferences that stem from the same reading.
Reading With/Against the Grain
Strong readers have the ability to read both into the grain and against the grain. When reading into the grain, the reader puts himself in the authors shoes to fully embody the points the author is trying to make. Psychologist Carl Rogers called this "empathetic listening", where the reader takes the stance of the author and thinks as though he agrees with what the author is saying. Some examples where I have read with the grain include on formal tests, such as the SAT, and song lyrics. For comprehension exams, such as the reading portion of the the SAT or ACT, I believe it is imperative to analyze the piece for the message that the author is trying to convey. This allows you build on what the author is saying and easily answer questions based on the context. Secondly, I read song lyrics into the grain because it allows me to listen to what the singer/songwriter is trying to get across. Once I can understand where the artist is coming from, it is easier for me to relate and even build upon the lyrical message in the song.
Reading against the grain is a whole other way to approach things. This form of reading is more analytic in the sense that you question and sometimes even dispute the points that the author is trying to get across. You may feel that everything the author says you have a rebuttal for, and although he/she may be knowledgeable in the subject, you get the sense they are missing some key components or even ignorant to refuting information. One minor instance where I recall reading against the grain was when I read an article saying that in order to conserve water on golf courses in this new "green" era, course conditions will inevitably suffer. Immediately I could tell that the author was an environmentalist and since I am an avid golfer where the condition of the course is of utter importance, I immediately forced judgement onto the article. It seemed every argument that the author made, whether it be to reduce carbon dioxide emissions or preserve wildlife, I had a counterexample. She seemed to be leaving out easier solutions such as environmentally friendly fertilizer or advanced drainage systems that use less water to keep the course in pristine condition. I knew I had strong feelings about the subject, but little did I know I was reading "against the grain".
You are right that our family experience influence how we read and interpret texts. Not only family experiences, but pretty much anything in our life that has influenced us--including things we have read and saw, what our friends think, what we've been told by the government, etc.
ReplyDeleteYou, for instance, exemplified the definition of strong reading when you connected the phrase "reading with the grain" with Rogers' term of "empathetic listening." This is precisely the kind of strong reading, which encourages connections, that I am hoping we can foster in this course.