Cai [1] Yanjun Cai Professor Jan Rieman English 1101-119 August 29, 2012

Response to Reading Christensen 1. I did my reading at the Student Union with my pizza, at 4:30 on Tuesday. This place is totally different place compared with my last reading place, for I have classes both in the afternoon and evening. I thought I could made good use of time if I stay at school to finish my reading. 2. Attorney: a lawyer, especially one who can act for somebody in court. In good faith: believing that what you are doing is right; believing that something is correct. Confide: to tell somebody secrets and personal information that you do not want other people to know. 3. I didn't realize that I was using the strategies when I was reading. However, I felt that I recalled my experience related to the situations presented in the text. I would ask myself how I felt when I encounter the similar situation in the text. And I did interpret this text using my previous knowledge, which helped me understand the meaning. 4. "When more attention is paid to the way something is written or said than to what is said, students' words and thought become devalued. Students learn to be silent, to gibe as few words as possible for teacher criticism." I agree with this sentence. Just as the essay we read earlier, when students are afraid of getting low grates or being criticized, they are less willing to take risks doing what they want to do. Taking an advanced course, or writing something complex may pay a price of getting an upset result. So students just choose some easy and simple

assignment for completion rather than perform themselves. 5. "After we write, we listen to each other's stories in our read-around circle where everyone has the opportunity to share, to be heard, to learn that knowledge can be gained be examining our lives." Frankly, I disagree with this paragraph. Our students could know more about our surroundings and examine society through this kind of activity, but what if their secrets were exposed without comprehension? If there is someone could not accept whose mom is lesbian or whose dad is gay, thing will be more complex. Some private things cannot be shared in public, which is hard for students to distinguish between can and cannot. 6. Since I haven't have class in America before, I could say something in China. I remember we didn't have this situation in our class, for people are comfortable with oral expression during daily life. However, some articles did need polish, for it can show your ability of literature. Some formal occasions also require specific words or phrases, which are suitable for the whole atmosphere as well as show respect to the audience. Generally, we do not use formal expression during our classes. 7. How do you feel like that kind of words required to enter that group? Will you pay attention to your expression or using words in that way? From your perspective, is it true that grammar is an indication of class and cultural background in the United State and that there is a bias against people who do not use language "correctly"?