Prompt #1:
I used to have better reading habits throughout high school. Yet it was for my personal reading than with school. I love to read, I have tons of books in my room, and in my closet. There are about 30 books that are new and that I have yet to read. In my high school English classes, I found them to be pretty easy. I could keep up with most of the reading and the assignments. My problem is that if it does not interest me then I don't really feel like reading it at all. Teachers always use the same books, "The Classics" and yes some of them are really good, but I think that the English Department should do some research and pick a few more modern books, that spark a wider range of interest of the students. I passed my classes, the reading was just harder to focus on when they are not as interesting as the book in your bag. I would often get in trouble for reading in class.
I love to read, and when it comes to writing I always assumed I sucked. When I took the Reading and Writing assessment tests I was greatly disappointed. I tested just below the score in READING to be able to take English 1A, and I had to take a semester of Reading 101... which to me, was a big waste of time. It was such an easy class and I missed a few points and got an A in the class. But I had to bite the bullet and just take the class, because without it I couldn't have taken Eng1A. I could have always retaken the assessment test, but by the time I thought about it it was too late.
When it comes to history, I hate reading history books and reading the chapters. I'm actually behind on my reading and need to catch up. It is just so easy for me to get distracted and avoid reading for history. History is sometimes hard to understand and I do not have a good approach at tackling my history reading. When you are taking 4 classes and working, your mind tends to wander when you should be doing your reading assignments.
To get my reading done I should just sit down, with no distractions around me at all and read. I should read when I have a break in between classes, or before I get ready for work. Since I can't highlight in this history book because it is a loan, I should take notes while I am reading and when I don't understand something I should look back and reread that section and look at my notes from class and compare the two. If I keep up with this regimen then I think everything will go more smoothly. Keeping up on your reading is very important, as you know!
Defnitions:
Thank you for your thoughtful reflection on reading. I agree that English instructors need to keep up on contemporary fiction and non-fiction and supplement the "classics" with modern literature. Many instructors believe that the 'western canon' offers students a foundational knowledge that cannot be found elsewhere in literature and I disagree with this. However, despite my wide reading of contemporary literature there are some classic works of literature that I will never forget and, someday, hope to read again. Anna Karenina by Tolstoy, David Copperfield by Dickens, The Jungle by Sinclair and Heart of Darkness by Conrad are all books that quite literally changed my life and continue to influence me even years after reading them, so there is something to be said for the classics. As far as your history book and reading goes, yes, you do need to catch up. I disagree that you cannot highlight. These books could use a little highlighting in my opinion. I purchased many a used book in college that had plenty of highlighting. If fact, I often learned from what others had highlighted. The most important part is that you read and understand the concepts so that you are ready to think critically on the exams. Good luck!
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