I go through many different processes when it comes to the reading and annotating a new piece of writing. Once I finish annotating, I am able to freely understand and engage the text in conversation as shown in my homework assignment. Again, shown in my homework assignments and annotated essays, I do an initial read through of highlighting important points. By highlighting these points, it reminds me to return to them later to go over them and understand them more thoroughly. Even if at face value the comments seem confusing, I know it will prompt me to reread that part, and why I wrote something so specific. I then go through again, highlighting or underlining, explaining the more complicated concepts, or engaging in a mini conversation/my thoughts on a section of the reading. I ask myself questions as I go through, like some of the questions that Gilroy discusses in her selection from her research guide. I question whether I understand what the writer is talking about, maybe trying to paraphrase if I don’t understand. What is the point of this piece of writing, why am I reading this, what is it trying to discuss? When asking those last few questions, it not only helps me understand what I am reading, but it helps me make a mental note to not forget to answer these questions in my own writing! Or I might engage in a conversation with a section of the text, adding onto it, or adding a contrasting idea that I can come back at a later date. By adding these small notes, it can help me to make a more organized argument, or be able to organize the information from the writing much cleaner and easier. Going through a new paper can help recognize what is missing from my own writing, help me recognize faults in papers easier, and just overall help with my understanding of new concepts, as Gilroy briefly mentions. Learning these new skills are so beneficial to understand different ideas, and how to write an essay in the best way possible.
