Reading like a writer (RLW) involves reading texts critically and consciously in order to understand the author's writing choices and how those choices impact the work. The goal of RLW is to analyze an author's choices so that valuable writing techniques and options can be acquired. Key aspects of RLW include considering context, purpose, audience and genre before reading; actively analyzing language style, evidence usage, transitions and other elements while reading; and asking questions about how the text could be improved. Practicing RLW can help readers think and learn about the writing process and ultimately improve their own writing.

1. How to read like a writer
by Mike Bunn
Carolina, Gabriel, Larissa, Marcela and Thaís
Academic Writing - 1/2012

2. Introduction

3. Consider:
• Connections between reading and writing;
• Reading in a particular way improves
writing.

4. Definitions and objectives

5. Reading like a writer (RLW) is...
• Reading critic and consciously;
• Identifying the author's choices;
• Assessing those choices;
• Acquiring valuable options.

6. The main idea of RLW is...
• To keep in mind that you are reading to
understand how the text was written.
Writing Reading

7. Objective
"Reading to learn about writing" (p. 72), that
is, "to locate what you believe are the most
important writerly choices represented in the
text" (p. 72), and to assess them in order to
make, or not, use of such constructions in
one's own texts.

8. Objective

9. Differences about RLW

10. Differences from "normal" reading
• Purposes:
o "Normal" reading: acquire information;
o RLW: identify, analyse and assess the
writing choices made by the author.

11. Importance

12. Why to Read Like a Writer?
• Opportunity to think and learn about writing;
• Students build knowledge about the process
through the study of others' experiences;
• Students improve their writing.

13. Why to Read Like a Writer?
• Charles Moran (1990, p. 75):
“When we read like writers we understand and
participate in the writing. We see the choices the
writer has made, how the writer has coped with
the consequences of those choices, (...) what
the writer is doing; we have written ourselves
and know the territory, know the feeling of it,
know some of the moves ourselves.”

14. How to read like a writer

15. Before reading
• Contextual information:
• Purpose;
• Audience;
• Genre;
• Published or student-produced;
• Objective of the reading;

16. While reading
• Follow-up questions:
• Is the author's purpose being fulfilled?
• Is the audience being reached?
• What in the text makes you feel and respond the
way you do?

17. While reading
• Consider:
• Language style: link to the audience;
• Evidences: appropriation and effectiveness;
• Confusing parts: existence and cause;
• Transition strategies: existence and
effectiveness.

18. While reading
• Hints on RLW:
• Highlight important parts;
• Make comments;
• Take notes;
• Write summaries during and after reading;
• Ask yourself follow-up questions;
• Ask yourself for possible improvements.

19. The importance of practicing
• "The more you practice, the quicker the
process becomes until you're reading like
a writer almost automatically" (p. 85).

20. Conclusion

21. Conclusion
"Questioning why the author made certain
decisions. Considering what techniques
could have made the text better. Deciding
how to include the best attributes of what
you read in your own writing. This is what
Reading Like a Writer is all about." (p. 85)

22. Other references
• Francine Prose: How to read as a writer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j-hHAgIDDw

23. References

24. References:
• MORAN, Charles. Reading Like a Writer. Vital
Signs 1, Ed. James L. Collins. Portsmouth,
NH: Boynton/Cook, 1990.
• ZEMLIANSKY, Pavel, LOWE, Charles. Writing
Spaces: Readings on Writing. Vol 2. Indiana:
Parlour Press, 2010.