Reading Response 2

 

Klein – “What Is It We Do When We Write Articles Like This”

Summary

In his article, “What Is It We Do When We Write Articles Like This,” Klein attempts to convey the main idea of his research, that of investigating and categorizing how academic writers conduct their research. He argues that only do they conduct their research in a much more complicated way than can be categorized in his model; as he feels research should; he also wants to spread this idea of complex research rather than copying encyclopedic text, because he feels that this will help prepare students for true research.

Synthesis

This article is not very similar to Greene’s article, though there is one similarity, that of trying to convince the reader to be a better researcher than what they have previously learned in high school. While Greene focuses on the flexibility of the conversation as a whole, Klein is more intent on the process of the research that Greene insists all people participate in.

Pre-reading

Out of my courses this semester, I have 2 that require researched writing. I imagine doing this research as a combination of reading on the topic coupled with conversations and discussions with my classmates and professors. To complete these projects, I will probably need access to the library, internet, and as well as with my professors and classmates to bounce ideas off of to help refine my ideas.

QD

1. Klein hits it right on the money when he talks about the high school students and their research papers, though it’s more with the internet than in a library, but the concept is the same. I actually have done more actual research in my normal essays than in my research papers. I like being able to talk to other people and to learn about different frames of mind than what I’ve already discovered or known. His method of research sound like it would accomplish the most and have the best results for the research, however I have not full used the method because that was not the method I was indoctrinated with.

3. Sources play a role in the research of professionals like Klein interviewed, but only in the sense of reference and in questing for further proof of their findings. It is much more important in past research efforts when your teacher required a certain amount of outside sources. The old method of research only had you reciting other people’s findings instead of finding your own.

4. The way I’ve done research papers isn’t quite the night long copying session he mentions, however I would do a lot more analysis of the other sources I found to analyze my own meaning from it rather than just quoting it over and over. I would spend more time looking for more general information that could help me, rather than specifically searching for information that I know I need.

Thoughts

This reading was rather interesting and shows how complex and intense all of the professionals are in their process of research. Nothing in it was overly surprising, but I thought his method of categorizing all of the different forms of research was interesting; plus I had to look up the definitions of a couple of his terms, which I don’t usually do.

Reading Response 1

Greene – Argument as Conversation

Summary

Greene’s article, Argument as Conversation, attempts to explain how research and study is necessary to have a productive conversation through descriptions of a proper frame of focus, as well as giving examples that show proper techniques. He feels that a new and unique focus created by research into the conversation adds to the overall conversation, and makes the reader a more productive benefit to society.

Synthesis

This reading is similar to several “self-help” books that I have read, though their topics elude me. The similarity is where not only does the author mention what you should do and support it with facts, but gives you examples of how it applies, counter-arguments, and key steps to look for.

Pre-reading

The definition of argument is dependent on the context of the situation. Is most everyday conversation, it is a conversation gone bad, with no information being passed back and forth, and full of yelling which has the potential to turn violent. The connotation of this is not very good generally. In an academic setting, an argument is the evidence behind a discussion, debate, or conversation. The big difference is that to have a conversation, you need an argument, but if you are having an argument, there probably is no reason, just yelling.

QD

2. Greene quotes Kenneth Burke’s passage once again because the metaphor that he uses is very easy to understand and explains everything perfectly. This metaphor emphasizes the fact that no one in the conversation was there the entire time, so no one knows the whole conversation. It is the job of whoever is joining to listen to the present strain; relating to Greene’s statement that research is necessary to make an educated addition to any conversation. This metaphor shows the conversation as never ending, so even if you contribute your whole life, the discussion will still go on. This can be applied to writing, because even after you are gone, people will still be discussing the topics you brought up and discussed, bringing up the idea that writing is flexible. He also mentions that the discussion is interminable, probably shattering some people’s belief that certain things are set in stone, while the reality is nothing is fixed forever.

3. The concept of framing is to find a focus that no one else has or hasn’t given appropriate attention to, and to introduce it to the conversation. The metaphor that it represents is one of perspective, because there are many different frames of the same picture. Framing is important to Greene because he feels that framing allows better understanding of a topic, as well as to more productive additions to conversations, making the reader(s) contributors to society.

AE

2. Greene’s article is indeed a conversation, because he presents both sides of the issue in a format that follows most logical thought and questions the reader may have to the points he brings up. Greene most definitely practices what he preaches, because he has researched enough to have a conversation with the reader over the subject matter through his knowledge of the whole subject.

Thoughts

The reading was interesting, because it gave a lot of thought to a subject that I and many others have only given a cursory glance, so it is good food for thought, and will definitely help me later on because it will remind me to think and research more and to discover what those before me have written before I write anything and risk sounding stale. Though this is the first time I’ve thought about most of these concepts in great depth, they ring surprisingly true in many aspects, and have a good message that many things are fluid and change.