Entry #2 -- What I do to Make Sense of Reading

1/19/2012

      Directions: Find at least one “every-day” text and identify what you do to make the text make sense.

      For my “every-day” text, I chose to read a recipe for making Macadamia Lemon Bars. The first sentence of the description for making the lemon bars read, “These bars melt in your mouth”. In reading this sentence, I realized that I visualize the verbs and nouns. I mentally created a motion image of a lemon bar melting, unrealistically and exaggerated, as I envisioned it entering my mouth.  In the second sentence, there was a typo (…when people taste this treats) and though I understood the sentence as it was meant to be written, I reread it several times. I think I did this to ensure the mistake was actually in the text and not in wrongful interpretation.

      While reading the directions for making the lemon bars, I noticed that I mentally say most of the words that I read, but I can still comprehend each direction without saying the small two, three, and four letter words. Also, my eyes are faster than the voice in my head. That is to say, I see each word and move on to the next before I say the word.  I believe this helps me foresee punctuation and any other indicators of tone and emphasis.

      I found this assignment to be quite challenging. I have never been asked to analyze what it is I actually do while I am reading.  I suppose my methods for comprehension will vary greatly with the type of text. Hopefully through ED319, I will be coached to better determine what I am doing while I read to assist comprehension.