Readers, Writers and Texts
Meaning
The primary concern in an English class is to uncover meaning, which is an extremely complicated task. I mean, where exactly can meaning be found? Think about it. Is the true meaning of a text the writer's intentions? Is the real meaning what the reader takes away from a text? Or, is the meaning contained in the text itself, independent of a specific writer or reader?
This area of exploration invites us to tackle these questions by exploring the nature, roles and types of readers, writers and texts.
Readers
- How do readers read?
- Why do different people respond to the same text in different ways?
- What does it mean to be well-read?
- Is there a correct way of interpreting a text?
- Can a reader understand a text without being biased?
- Why do writers write?
- Are writers responsible for the ways that readers receive their work?
- Can a writer effectively write a story that takes place in a culture other than their own?
- What makes a text a text?
- What's the difference between text and subtext?
- How does a text contain meaning?
- Why do governments control the types of texts that are produced?
- Is there a distinction between text and culture?
What Questions does this AOE Ask?
How and why do people study language and literature?
What are the different ways in which people are affected by texts?
How can the 'meaning' of a text be constructed, negotiated, expressed and interpreted by readers and writers?
How does the use of language vary across different text types?
How do the style and structure of a text affect its meaning?
How can texts present challenges and offer insights?
Key Words
Meaning
Interpretation
Construction
Challenges
Insights
Affect