Julian Spiessberger

Dr. Maleshewski

IB English HL

12/11/23

IB has contributed to a shift in my approach to reading and thinking about literature.

How to read literature like a professor by Thomas King specifically has changed the way I

read and digest writing pieces by explaining various literary and writing techniques, and the

many forms of symbols and metaphors found in texts. I learned how these can shape a novel,

and how stories often rely on these for the reader to interpret. Some specific reading and

writing skills that I have developed are annotating and analyzing prose meaning in literature,

often in poems. The home child by Liz Berry has caused me to see beyond the surface

meaning of a poem, and really think about the way that an author can use symbols and

figurative language to convey a deeper message to the reader. An entry that I think has best

demonstrated my development as a reader and writer are my dialectical journals from there

there by Tommy Orange. These show my growth in analyzing literature, as metaphors and

symbols are very prevalent in the novel. Furthermore, the journals have helped me to better

consider what I need to write and what is not as important, essentially having more concise

and coherent writing. Some skills that I want to improve on for next semester are to annotate

texts more, as this will help me take notes and keep track of literary devices used, which in

turn will help me with future dialectical journals. Improving this will also help me remember

key parts of a story, and any significant moments that have an impact on the plot.