Ann Raimes

The Ann Raimes introduction made me actually think more about the reading and writing process. She says how as we age we struggle with trying to "find ourselves" and "discover who we are" and that we do not just come to this conclusion all on our own. Everything around us shapes who we become and plays are role in our identity. As we compare our similarities and differences with others it helps us learn and come closer to discovering who we are.

When Ann Raines went into more detail about reading critically I was a little unsure of what she meant because with my experiences with reading not many of my teachers went through and explained this process and how important it is. I was not really aware that the main point of when your reading is not just understanding the point the writer was trying to make but also seeing how the writers point of view is created and what circumstances give rise to it. Ann Raimes explains it as assessing how the views are similar to or different from out own, and why. When you think of reading in that way it makes you think of what your reading more in depth. Plus with the strategies she talks about and how to use them like rereading, underlining, writing questions in the margains, looking up words that your unsure, and examining the book before you read and getting information about the author seem like really effective ways to help get the most out of what you are reading.

Also the way that Ann Raimes described strategies from the writing process will also be helpful for my future writing processes. She breaks down the process of writing a paper and says that there is more than just writing a paper, having a few peers review it, and then turning in the paper as the final one. She was not just explaining what a good paper is she really explains how the process works and all the guidelines to follow in order to become better at writing papers and also how your writing becomes a piece of reading material for someone else and it will recieve critical reading. Overall I think Ann Raimes Introduction was a very helpful selection to read and will deffinately help the next time I am reading something or am writing a paper.