Why are rhetorical reading strategies important?

Rhetorical readers understand that authors make choices about content, structure, and style based on the rhetorical context in which they are operating. Furthermore, rhetorical readers recognize their own context for reading, match their reading strategies with the text, and vary their reading process according to their purpose for reading. Since academic reading and writing represent an evolving conversation in which both the author’s and the reader’s rhetorical context come into play, it is important for college students to know how to read rhetorically. Additionally, college reading encompasses a wide variety of texts, offering students opportunities to expand their vocabularies.

In this module, you will learn how rhetorical reading helps you as a college student. You will also learn strategies for becoming an active rhetorical reader and how to build your vocabulary.