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THE IMPORTANCE OF READING
Traditionally, writing classes have focused on a variety of topics connected to the art and craft of writing. Some classes have concentrated more on grammar, and others, newer classes, on process writing and writing as a method of discovery. Some classes have used writing exercises, while others practiced an unstructured writing style to include freewriting. Some classes have focused on writing clearly, while others have been less concerned with clarity and more concerned with self-expression. Aaron Writes will examine topics that have been traditionally studied in writing classes to include process writing, writing as discovery, freewriting, image clarity with adjectives, genre, style, voice, and dialogue in future issues. However, our first issue will examine one of the least explored aspects of writing classes: reading.
Reading is important for improving your writing. This is true for both native and nonnative speakers. Reading provides examples of writing. The more we read, the more examples we have. Some of the examples we remember consciously, but most we do not remember consciously. The examples remain somewhere in our unconscious. When we write, we rely upon such examples to create our own writing.
Grammar is important for writing. One significant approach to improving grammar is to read. This is true for both native and nonnative speakers. Reading provides us with examples of grammar. The more we read, the more examples we have. Some of these examples we remember consciously. Most of them we do not remember consciously. These examples remain somewhere in our unconscious. When we write, we rely upon such examples to create correct grammar in our own writing.
Did the above paragraph look familiar to you? Of course it did. It was a rewrite of the paragraph about why reading is important for improving writing. We could do the same again for vocabulary.
Reading is important for improving your vocabulary. This is true for both native and nonnative speakers. Reading provides us with new vocabulary and reinforces the vocabulary that we know. The more we read, the better our vocabulary is. Some of the new vocabulary we remember consciously, and we use it when we write. Some of it we do not remember consciously. This vocabulary knowledge is somewhere in our unconscious. We use our conscious vocabulary knowledge when we write. After we see a word enough times, it moves from our unconscious to our conscious. We access our unconscious knowledge when we use a thesaurus or a dictionary.
Reading is important for improving your writing. This brings the next question, what should you read? First, you should read what you enjoy reading. Second, you should seek out good writing. Defining good reading is an excellent discussion topic. In a future issue of Aaron Writes, we will return to answer the question about what is and is not good writing. Third, you should read writing in the area that you want to write in. Last, you should also read in other areas to gain knowledge and understanding that you may not find when reading in your main area of interest.
Read, read often, and read much. This will help to make you a better writer. The more you can read, the better.
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