Instructor Manual: Wyrick, Field, and Wick, Steps to Writing Well w/ Additional Readings, 12e, ©2027, 9798214156729; Chapter 1: The
Reading-Writing Connection
Instructor Manual
Wyrick, Field, and Wick, Steps to Writing Well with Additional Readings, 12e, ©2027,
9798214156729; Chapter 1: The Reading-Writing Connection
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter..........................................................3
What's New in This Chapter............................................................................ 3
Chapter Outline................................................................................................ 3
1.1 How Can Reading Well Help Me Become a Better Writer?...................................................................3
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................3
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................3
1.2 Becoming an Analytical Reader.............................................................................................................. 4
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................4
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................4
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................4
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................4
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................4
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................4
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................4
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................5
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................5
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................5
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................5
1.3 Reading Multimodal Texts Analytically..................................................................................................5
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................5
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................5
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................5
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................6
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................6
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................6
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................6
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................6
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................6
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................6
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................7
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................7
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................7
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................7
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................7
Activity: Knowledge Check:..........................................................................................................................7
1.4 Writing a Summary..................................................................................................................................7
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................7
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................7
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................8
1.5 Benefiting from Class Discussions.......................................................................................................... 8
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................8
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................8
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 1
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Wyrick, Field, and Wick, Steps to Writing Well w/ Additional Readings, 12e, ©2027, 9798214156729; Chapter 1: The
Reading-Writing Connection
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................8
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................8
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................8
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................8
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................9
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................9
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................9
Activity: Knowledge Check:..........................................................................................................................9
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 2
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Wyrick, Field, and Wick, Steps to Writing Well w/ Additional Readings, 12e, ©2027, 9798214156729; Chapter 1: The
Reading-Writing Connection
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
The purpose of this chapter is to establish the fundamental connection between analytical reading and
effective writing by guiding students through systematic approaches to textual analysis. This chapter
introduces essential strategies for reading both traditional essays and multimodal texts analytically,
emphasizing how close examination of other writers' rhetorical choices can enhance one's own
composition skills. Students learn a ten-step process for analyzing professional essays, including
prereading preparation, identifying thesis statements and supporting evidence, and evaluating
organizational strategies and stylistic techniques. The chapter also addresses contemporary literacy
demands by providing eight strategies for analyzing multimodal texts that incorporate visual, audio, and
digital elements. Additionally, it covers practical skills including objective summary writing and active
participation in class discussions, all designed to help diverse learners develop critical thinking abilities
that transfer directly to their own writing processes and academic success.
WHAT'S NEW IN THIS CHAPTER
The following elements are improvements in this chapter from the previous edition:
New North Face advertisement analysis/annotation
STEAM application box
Additional collaborative activity
Refreshed “Practicing What You’ve Learned” activities
[return to top]
CHAPTER OUTLINE
1.1 HOW CAN READING WELL HELP ME BECOME A BETTER
WRITER?
Key Concept:
Close reading skills help students develop their own writing skills when they reflect on other writers’
opinions and style. Students should pay attention to diction and prose when reading work by other
writers.
Teaching Tips/Strategies:
Use sample essays to identify diction and prose. Ask students to identify other writers’ decisions about
diction and prose. Then, invite students to reflect on their own writing style – what distinct elements of
voice can they identify in their own work and what would they like to experiment with after reading other
professional samples?
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 3
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Wyrick, Field, and Wick, Steps to Writing Well w/ Additional Readings, 12e, ©2027, 9798214156729; Chapter 1: The
Reading-Writing Connection
1.2 BECOMING AN ANALYTICAL READER
Key Concept:
Analytical reading requires a systematic two-reading approach with pre-reading preparation, active
annotation, and post-reading evaluation to understand both content and rhetorical strategies. This process
involves examining title, publication context, thesis identification, supporting evidence, organization, and
stylistic choices.
Discussion Question:
How might your understanding of a text change between your first and second analytical reading, and
what specific elements should you focus on during each reading to maximize comprehension?
Teaching Tips/Strategies:
Address the common misconception that reading faster equals better comprehension by demonstrating
how slowing down reveals layers of meaning. Encourage students to resist the urge to rush through texts
and model the annotation process using a shared text to show how analytical reading differs from casual
reading.
Key Concept:
Effective annotation involves marking key elements like thesis statements, supporting points, transitions,
and stylistic devices while questioning the writer's choices and effectiveness. Students should develop a
consistent system of symbols and marginal notes to track their analytical observations.
Discussion Question:
What annotation strategies work best for different types of texts, and how can you develop a personal
system that helps you engage more deeply with challenging material?
Key Concept:
Post-reading evaluation requires synthesizing observations about the text's effectiveness, considering
alternative approaches the writer could have taken, and identifying techniques to apply in one's own
writing. This reflective step transforms reading from passive consumption to active learning.
Discussion Question:
After completing an analytical reading, how do you determine whether a text is truly effective, and what
criteria should guide your evaluation of the writer's success?
Teaching Tips/Strategies:
Guide students to move beyond simple like/dislike reactions to evidence-based evaluations. Encourage
them to consider multiple perspectives and help them understand that critiquing a text's effectiveness is
different from agreeing with its message.
Key Concept:
Annotated professional essays serve as models that demonstrate how analytical reading strategies work in
practice, showing how readers can identify and evaluate rhetorical choices. These examples illustrate the
connection between careful reading and improved writing skills.
Discussion Question:
When examining the sample annotations in "College for Grown-Ups," which analytical observations do
you find most insightful, and how might similar questioning improve your own reading process?
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 4
accessible website, in whole or in part.
Reading-Writing Connection
Instructor Manual
Wyrick, Field, and Wick, Steps to Writing Well with Additional Readings, 12e, ©2027,
9798214156729; Chapter 1: The Reading-Writing Connection
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter..........................................................3
What's New in This Chapter............................................................................ 3
Chapter Outline................................................................................................ 3
1.1 How Can Reading Well Help Me Become a Better Writer?...................................................................3
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................3
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................3
1.2 Becoming an Analytical Reader.............................................................................................................. 4
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................4
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................4
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................4
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................4
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................4
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................4
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................4
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................5
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................5
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................5
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................5
1.3 Reading Multimodal Texts Analytically..................................................................................................5
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................5
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................5
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................5
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................6
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................6
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................6
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................6
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................6
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................6
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................6
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................7
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................7
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................7
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................7
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................7
Activity: Knowledge Check:..........................................................................................................................7
1.4 Writing a Summary..................................................................................................................................7
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................7
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................7
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................8
1.5 Benefiting from Class Discussions.......................................................................................................... 8
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................8
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................8
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 1
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Wyrick, Field, and Wick, Steps to Writing Well w/ Additional Readings, 12e, ©2027, 9798214156729; Chapter 1: The
Reading-Writing Connection
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................8
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................8
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................8
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................8
Key Concept:.................................................................................................................................................9
Discussion Question:.....................................................................................................................................9
Teaching Tips/Strategies:...............................................................................................................................9
Activity: Knowledge Check:..........................................................................................................................9
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 2
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Wyrick, Field, and Wick, Steps to Writing Well w/ Additional Readings, 12e, ©2027, 9798214156729; Chapter 1: The
Reading-Writing Connection
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
The purpose of this chapter is to establish the fundamental connection between analytical reading and
effective writing by guiding students through systematic approaches to textual analysis. This chapter
introduces essential strategies for reading both traditional essays and multimodal texts analytically,
emphasizing how close examination of other writers' rhetorical choices can enhance one's own
composition skills. Students learn a ten-step process for analyzing professional essays, including
prereading preparation, identifying thesis statements and supporting evidence, and evaluating
organizational strategies and stylistic techniques. The chapter also addresses contemporary literacy
demands by providing eight strategies for analyzing multimodal texts that incorporate visual, audio, and
digital elements. Additionally, it covers practical skills including objective summary writing and active
participation in class discussions, all designed to help diverse learners develop critical thinking abilities
that transfer directly to their own writing processes and academic success.
WHAT'S NEW IN THIS CHAPTER
The following elements are improvements in this chapter from the previous edition:
New North Face advertisement analysis/annotation
STEAM application box
Additional collaborative activity
Refreshed “Practicing What You’ve Learned” activities
[return to top]
CHAPTER OUTLINE
1.1 HOW CAN READING WELL HELP ME BECOME A BETTER
WRITER?
Key Concept:
Close reading skills help students develop their own writing skills when they reflect on other writers’
opinions and style. Students should pay attention to diction and prose when reading work by other
writers.
Teaching Tips/Strategies:
Use sample essays to identify diction and prose. Ask students to identify other writers’ decisions about
diction and prose. Then, invite students to reflect on their own writing style – what distinct elements of
voice can they identify in their own work and what would they like to experiment with after reading other
professional samples?
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 3
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Wyrick, Field, and Wick, Steps to Writing Well w/ Additional Readings, 12e, ©2027, 9798214156729; Chapter 1: The
Reading-Writing Connection
1.2 BECOMING AN ANALYTICAL READER
Key Concept:
Analytical reading requires a systematic two-reading approach with pre-reading preparation, active
annotation, and post-reading evaluation to understand both content and rhetorical strategies. This process
involves examining title, publication context, thesis identification, supporting evidence, organization, and
stylistic choices.
Discussion Question:
How might your understanding of a text change between your first and second analytical reading, and
what specific elements should you focus on during each reading to maximize comprehension?
Teaching Tips/Strategies:
Address the common misconception that reading faster equals better comprehension by demonstrating
how slowing down reveals layers of meaning. Encourage students to resist the urge to rush through texts
and model the annotation process using a shared text to show how analytical reading differs from casual
reading.
Key Concept:
Effective annotation involves marking key elements like thesis statements, supporting points, transitions,
and stylistic devices while questioning the writer's choices and effectiveness. Students should develop a
consistent system of symbols and marginal notes to track their analytical observations.
Discussion Question:
What annotation strategies work best for different types of texts, and how can you develop a personal
system that helps you engage more deeply with challenging material?
Key Concept:
Post-reading evaluation requires synthesizing observations about the text's effectiveness, considering
alternative approaches the writer could have taken, and identifying techniques to apply in one's own
writing. This reflective step transforms reading from passive consumption to active learning.
Discussion Question:
After completing an analytical reading, how do you determine whether a text is truly effective, and what
criteria should guide your evaluation of the writer's success?
Teaching Tips/Strategies:
Guide students to move beyond simple like/dislike reactions to evidence-based evaluations. Encourage
them to consider multiple perspectives and help them understand that critiquing a text's effectiveness is
different from agreeing with its message.
Key Concept:
Annotated professional essays serve as models that demonstrate how analytical reading strategies work in
practice, showing how readers can identify and evaluate rhetorical choices. These examples illustrate the
connection between careful reading and improved writing skills.
Discussion Question:
When examining the sample annotations in "College for Grown-Ups," which analytical observations do
you find most insightful, and how might similar questioning improve your own reading process?
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 4
accessible website, in whole or in part.
