I think this helps remind the reader what the main goal of what they are reading is and makes the writing feel more structured, clear, and complete.

I am writing this comment after finishing the chapter. I really like that it started with this story; it's a brilliant way to represent the idea. I also believe that if Dr. X had summarized the opposing views early on, the presentation would have been more compelling.

It's interesting how unsell this advice is, but I think starting with summarizing the other views is received best by people with the other view.

Not exactly related, but I noticed that in some classes, the instructor starts the semester without laying the groundwork for what we will be discussing. They dive deep into the topic, leaving many students confused and unable to understand what is being said. It's important to write in a way that everyone can understand, even if it means starting with small concepts. This approach can help readers conduct their own research on the topic and return with a better background for understanding the material.

Adding your personal experience to support a point or introduce a new angle to the conversation can be a valuable contribution to the discussion and support your stand.

I like the concept of the "believing game" where I take the shoes of the original author and write from his perspective fairly, even if planning to disagree with his thoughts later.

It's important to summarize other views before presenting your own for two reasons: one is to understand other perspectives and be in a position to give your "say," and the other is that it's expected as a way of strengthening your arguments in an academic conversation.

It took me a minute to understand what the title meant. Now I see that it means how to have your own opinion and express your 'say' without being greatly influenced by what others 'say,' which I think is very difficult to manage. I hope reading this could help with that.

I don't think there is anything as effective as mapping to summarize and simplify a subject. I find it really useful for understanding and memorizing.

I know a lot of people use the method of reading out loud to help them focus and memorize the text. However, this doesn't work for me. I end up focusing on how I sound when reading the text out loud. What helps me though is having a note and just writing random words of what I'm reading. This helps me stay focused and keep track of what I'm reading.

I really like the example given about narrow research. I enjoy the process of starting from a broad point and diving deeper and deeper into the subject, going down the rabbit hole, and ending up with a really interesting destination to write something special and specific.

It's important to start with broad research about the subject to see how people write about it and the different opinions on the subject. I do this with almost every research; I even like to watch videos about the subject.

I like this statement; I never thought of it this way. That losing and getting lost are very different. Losing is mostly negative, but getting lost could result in great outcomes.

"Lost" is not necessarily negative. Being lost makes you fully present because you are trying to find a way from the lost state. It becomes a part of discovery.

I like the final statement, and I agree that everything can be made into a story if done right and has the potential to be part of a meaningful narrative.

This is in contrast to the idea that we should think linearly and focus on one thing. Instead, we should allow ourselves to wander in thought and action, as it can lead to unexpected insights, ideas, and understanding.

He connected Black liberation with the freedom of white Americans, emphasizing that true freedom is shared and connected.

I think the message he is trying to convey to his nephew is that the white Americans are like his lost brothers. He wants his nephew to look at them with understanding, to understand why they think the way they do. He thinks that from their ignorance, and by understanding where they come from, he could help them and they could be liberated from their racism.

I am not sure if he's really talking about his actual brother. If that's not the case, I think he is talking about the systemic racism against black men and the lasting emotional scars left behind.

Speaking is a way of breaking the chains of oppression. She comes to that conclusion from her personal experience, but also recognizes that throughout history, speaking has been a double-edged sword used to silence people and to liberate them.

I like that she discovered her voice through writing, which is liberating.

In most cultures, talking back as a child is deemed disrespectful, which I agree with to some extent. However, completely silencing a child's voice and preventing them from speaking their minds could have very negative consequences for the child's future and confidence in his adult life.

I am not sure how to feel about this, but it might have been better if the writer left it to the reader to decide or understand by themselves what the article is about.

This sentence shows the conflict that the writer is having throughout the article on what reality is since science says it's not true, but to them, it's reality; they feel it.

I think this enviable, that one way of speaking will be more dominant than the other especially in how connected the world is right now

I agree that people shouldn't feel conflicted about speaking in their dialect. I am not one to speak on how things go in the U.S. workplace and what language is expected and accepted. But in Oman, you are expected to speak in a somewhat formal way to make communication easier with people of different backgrounds.

I am not entirely sure how to feel about this. It's great that you use your natural way of speaking in your writing, but I think it could be quite challenging for English learners or non-Americans in general to read the paper without feeling confused about the meaning of some words.

I think this is true for everyone: changing the way you write or not really giving your true opinion to fit the teacher's expectations and values if you knew them.

I like that Bartholomae talked about the difficulty students face in adopting an authoritative academic voice. He suggests that students not only need to be good at a subject but also need to mimic someone, which shouldn't be the case. Instead, they should focus on being themself.

Great introduction, highlighting the challenge students face in "inventing" the university each time they write, and setting the tone for the rest.

I liked the ending. It shows that the people are tied to the land not only physically but also spiritually and culturally and that their tie is renewed to the land in a cycle, just like the cycle of life.

I like the pride she has toward her language and not accepting it as anything but an independent language of its own. In Oman, we have a small isolated town by the mountain, and the only way to get to it is by sea. The people of this town speak a language that is a mix of Arabic, English, Portuguese, Spanish, and a few other words from different languages. However, the people who speak it think of it as one unique language called Kumzari.

I totally agree with her. I think conveying your message in the easiest way is better than complicating it to make it appealing to critics.

In Oman, there is a large number of expats from South Asia. I often find myself speaking a mix of broken Arabic and some words of Urdu, the way they usually speak Arabic. If someone from the same background speaks perfect Arabic, I can't help but start speaking broken Arabic. I believe the reason they don't speak normal Arabic is that everyone speaks broken Arabic with them from day one.

I believe that language plays a significant role in shaping our thoughts, and it can impact the way we think and express our feelings. I express my feelings slightly differently in English than in my native language, Arabic.

Self-determination is the fundamental act of reclaiming your identity and taking control of your life

I couldn't annotate page 41, but this is what I wanted to note: paragraph two "My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you."

This statement is very true. Silence can be helpful in the short term, but in the long run, choosing to stay silent can have negative repercussions. Life is too short to spend it in silence.

She implies that this fear is necessary and must be embraced to achieve the change she strives for, which is something everyone needs to understand and work through.

Biographical context and publication information help to ease the reader into the text. Knowing who the writer is and their purpose makes it easier to connect with the text.

These five steps make the reading process less overwhelming and more structured.

Asking questions while reading seems like a good strategy to stay engaged and understand more. Developing the habit of questioning the writer’s purpose and methods can be very helpful for understanding what I am reading.

I don’t yet understand the concept of active reading, but learning about the style of writing seems like an interesting idea and could truly help understand a piece.

Even though this should be a given, I appreciate the reminder. I think those values are important for everyone in the class to have a great experience.

I am a bit confused about the interview. Are we required to write 500 words for an assignment, or do we need to have at least 500 words of the essay to make one?

Knowing that the class has this policy makes it more relaxing.