1.1 Why you read
You start this session by thinking about why you read.
Activity 1 What do you read and why?
Allow about 5 minutes
Write down five things you have read in the past couple of weeks and say why you read them. You can include all kinds of things, not just books and newspapers. Include both short and long pieces of writing if you can.
| What you read | Why you read it |
Discussion
Here are some example responses.
| What I read | Why I read it |
| Novel | For pleasure |
| Newspaper | For information – to catch up on the news |
| Newspaper | For pleasure – to do the crossword |
| Leaflet on smoking | Information – the practice nurse gave it to me and asked me to read it |
| Rail timetable | Information – to plan my journey |
| Note from partner | Information – wanted me to take the cat to the vet |
| Internet article on healthy eating | Information – am trying to lose weight |
| Report on adult reading | Information – am writing an essay on adult reading |
| Cereal packet | Information – am trying to eat a healthy diet and wanted to know what was in the cereal |
It can be quite daunting when you think about reading, but reading doesn’t necessarily mean only books. Every day, and without much thought, you read lots of different texts for different reasons.
OpenLearn - Everyday English 2
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