Chapter 7: Supporting Details and Transitions

        Chapter 7 provided many beneficial information such as recognizing supporting details, identifying types of supporting details, using transitional words to guide your reading, and how to paraphrase paragraphs. I would use these elements throughout my education because as a reader and a writer I would be able to pay attention to important details. In order to recognize supporting details the reader first has to identify key details which will lead you to the main idea/topic of the paragraph. Secondly, look for minor details which provides additional information to the key details. Lastly, there are different types of supporting details to look out for and they are examples, facts or statistics, reasons, descriptions, and steps or procedures. Examples are used to support and make an idea understandable. Facts and/or statistics provide evidence that will make the main idea correct. Reasons is given to explain why the main idea is correct. Descriptions is used to describe a person, object, place, or process in the main topic of the paragraph. Steps and/or procedures are used to list steps of details. 

        Additionally, I found transitions to be helpful. Transitions are connected words or phrases that lead one idea to another. There are many types of transitions used for specific tasks in writing. For instance, time/sequence is a type of transition that is used to arrange ideas in order (first, last, next, finally). Another, would be example which is used to lead a following example to the idea (for example, for instance, to illustrate, etc.). Cause/effect is also a type of transition which is used to show a connection between two things (because, thus, therefore, since, consequently). However, these three types of transitions aren't the only ones that are used in writing. Enumeration, continuation, contrast, comparison, and summation are also types of transitions. Overall, there were so many important elements that I learned in the chapter and how I can use them to improve my writing as well as my reading comprehension. 

Chapter 5: Reading As Thinking

Now and then, when I read I usually forget to preview a book, textbook, etc. This chapter refreshed my memory in having to preview before reading. Preview before reading is very essential because it provides strategize thinking of what you're about to read. There are many ways of previewing a book such as reading the title and subtitles, chapter introduction, boldface headings, topic sentences, typographical aids, graphs, charts, pictures, summary, and end-of-chapter material. These will help guide you along and to have a clear understanding of what you are reading and what you have learned as well. It is also a good idea to ask yourself questions of what you read and how you can relate it to your own personal experience. What I didn't know before reading this chapter was the SQ3R (survey, question, read, recite, and review) method. This method also helps you to build up more as a comprehensive reader. The next time I read a book or textbook I will look forward in using the preview and the SQ3R methods. 

Chapter 4: Using Word Parts and Learning New Words

There are many words out there in books, newspapers, articles, journals, and etc. that many of us may not know about. This chapter helped me strategize new ways in finding the meaning of a word by knowing three different parts which are prefixes, roots, and suffixes. I learned that by using these three parts of identifying the word and using the context of the sentence will help understand what the word means. Another way in learning new words is by building a vocabulary list and use them in your daily use of speech and writing. Knowing this now will help me along the way in my reading and would become a very useful source.

Chapter 3: Using Context Clues

Reading this chapter helped me understand and learn the different types of context clues to define a meaning of a word. At first I didn't know that there were more than one context clues and that sometimes context clues would have its limitations. In other words, there will be no clues in a sentence to help identify the meaning of a word. When I now read a book, passage, or article I can identify words that I don't recognize and can use options; definition, synonym, example, contrast, or inference context clues. Using these different context clues would help improve my writing skills and learn more of different types of writing. 

"Conversational Dilemmas"

As I looked at the title, I did not know what the reading selection was going to be about besides that it may have to do with conversations in a bad situation. What I wanted to know was if the selection was a story or an informative reading. As I read, so many things came to mind about how a person may perceive someone else's commentary or ideas differently; as in good or bad. I had learned many new tips of how we can avoid having a conversational dilemma with others. I cannot recall having a conversational dilemma with somebody, but I would most definitely use the tips for future use. The cartoon, "Baby Blues", appeared to be funny to me by the miscommunication the couple had. I would like to know if its possible for someone to not ever be or never had a conversational dilemma.

Chapter 2: The Basics Of College Textbook Reading

When I looked at the word textbook, I was curious what it had to be about. I wanted to know why were textbooks so expensive.  Unfortunately, it didn't necessarily answered my question, but I learned why it was a valuable source for students to have. Including me. What surprised me about textbooks was that it was nearly written by college professors. I wonder if one of my professors ever wrote or provided information in a textbook. All in all, textbooks provide a great source of information for students to be able to infer and connect with their learning in and out of class. Textbooks include a very organized structure for students to follow on a topic and expand on their visual learning. I know now that the textbooks that I carry to class here and there is a helpful reference tool to have for my learning experience.

"Stop Asking Me About My Major"

Before reading this essay, I didn't know what to expect. I wanted to know what major the author was referring to and who kept asking his/her major. After reading this essay, I learned that changing majors occur most of the time in students likewise to Andrew and Jesse's experiences. They both had different interests, but both were aiming at the wrong direction. Choosing a major shouldn't rely on what you gain at work (money), it should be something you would enjoy doing. Eventually, only one came to their desire and the other remained miserable. Always follow your desires and interests because it would bring joy to your life. Another valuable lesson that I learned was to not let anyone that would bring you down on your goals, it wouldn't be so great even if it was your close family member. Lastly, I would like to know is that if it was possible to create your own major if you can't seem to find the "one". If so, how?

"What Your Mother Never Told You About College"

Before reading this article, I knew that it was going to be about college experiences. What I wanted to know was what were the advices given and discussed in the article. I learned from reading the article, that its good to know from other students experiences about a class they had and how the professors were like. It would be an advantage because information is given and we wouldn't be surprised about the expectations of a certain class. Therefore, its our useful guide. I would like to know more about the outcome of the experience about college and whether they had resolved issues at that prior moment.; such as having a professor that's quite hard to understand in a lecture class.

Chapter 1: Successful Attitudes Toward Reading and Learning

Before reading this chapter, I knew that the reading was going to be about staying focused in college. What I wanted to know about this chapter was what more is there to college reading and how would we approach studying habits. In the reading, it did not only described about staying focused in college, but also it gave tips on how you can resolve problematic issues in your reading and how you can approach different methods in learning. I learned that there were a variety of different learning styles for each individual and that when you read an article/passage it is important to be comprehensive. Being a comprehensive reader wil help you identify clearly and evaluate on what you know or don't know about the topic/issue/article. Overall, this chapter helped me explore new ideas of how to study, learn, and identify our own reading strengths. Also, I would like to know more about using our comprehension to gather the only important or necessary information in an assigned reading.