ATTENDING A READING OR TALK
Beforehand, obtain a flyer, brochure, or any other material offered, and read the scholar/artist’s statement accompanying the work, if there is one. Find some work by the writer, and read it in advance. Talk about it with friends; make some notes. FIRST PARAGRAPH–write in advance of the reading. What’s this work like? What’s interesting or unusual about it? Get a sense of the flavor. Write about your expectations and reactions. What do you notice in the work that connects with concepts we have been learning in our class?
When you attend the reading, go with a friend, and get there early so you can take in the atmosphere. Take some preliminary notes. Use this as a chance to practice your setting-description skills–describe things and people in killing detail. What are you seeing by way of texture, light, shape, color? Next, eavesdrop. What are people saying? Tune your ear, practice capturing “stolen language moments.” Take notes. Write them up for your second paragraph of the report. When the reading begins, listen as closely as possible. Because you have made the effort to read some of the writer’s work in advance, you will be able to get a lot more out of the reading. It is however perfectly okay to space out. It’s perfectly okay not to like the reading, but you don’t have to tell me that–I want to know what you did admire, what words/sentences/titles/lines/jokes–stood out for you, captured your attention. Jot down ten things you hear, and note why you think they caught your attention. This will be shaped into your third paragraph for the report.
Interview your friend. The person who went with you to the reading needs to answer a few questions from you about the experience. Write down what they say. This is your fourth paragraph. Conclude with a summary paragraph (fifth) that answers the following: 1. What did you and your friend conclude about the reading?
2. Will you read more by this author? Why? Why not? What?
3. How does this reading rank compared to others you have attended?
4. Look back at your expectations–what was met? What was unmet?
5. What’s one thing you learned about being a better out-loud reader of your own work?
6. What’s one lingering question you have about this writer/her work?
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