READING REPORT: CHARACTERISTICS, STRUCTURE, TYPES, EXAMPLE - LITERATURE - 2024

The reading report is a text that tries to account for what has been read in another text so that another reader can read and interpret it without having to read the original work. This occurs after partial or total reading of said original text. When it comes to more than one text, they must have a certain discursive or thematic affinity with each other.

Now, the production of a reading report is the responsibility of the reader himself. This must be written in such a way as to maintain fidelity with the concepts issued. In addition, its wording must be consistent with the language of the discipline or specialty to which the original source or sources belong.

On the other hand, a reading report has an objective component, since the act of reading is carried out consciously. When coming into contact with the work, the reader should try to understand the contents and the implications. In the same way, during the writing, it must reflect what has been read in its entirety, without any type of bias.

Likewise, this report has a subjective component, as its writing involves reflection on the part of the reader. As a result of this, the editor decides whether or not to expand the information read. In the process, he uses his own writing style and chooses certain communication structures according to his personal preferences.

From a pedagogical point of view, the reading report has great value. This forces the habit of reading, with which knowledge is greatly favored. Additionally, the reading is done from a critical, evaluative position. In addition, it encourages coherent writing, the capacity for synthesis and an analytical posture before texts.

The reading report does not have a single methodological approach for its preparation. There are only general clothing guidelines. However, the most common reports are those structured in an analytical-descriptive way and those with an argumentative-expository scheme.

characteristics

Critical appraisal

The object of a reading report is the critical evaluation of any kind of text. This includes literary works of all kinds, newspaper articles, and entire literary genres.

In the same way, specialized works belonging to the fields of architecture, art, fashion, politics, exhibitions, shows and various other fields can be the object of this type of report.

Above all, this type of report has a broad discussion that includes various perspectives. The most important element is that this report is more than just a summary. This should be filled with comments from the author of the reading report.

Through these comments, he manages to communicate the creator of the writing with different audiences. Often times, the writer also expresses his agreement or disagreement with the content of the text or the way it was written.

Brevity

Reading reports are usually short. In academic newspapers and magazines, they rarely exceed 1,000 words. However, longer reports and longer comments may be found. In any case, all of them must be concise.

Topics and ideas consistent with the original text

Regarding the subject of the reading report, this is the same as the text that is analyzed. The report writer locates the main ideas of said text.

This idea and its interpretation will be indicative of the quality of the report. Now, the ideas can be from concepts or events to the ideas of other authors.

Explanatory-expository text

The reading report is, above all, an explanatory-expository text. Due to its explanatory condition, it generates a wealth of information, while due to its expository nature it makes them known. As for the language used, it is objective and written in the third person.

Although the predominant structure is the enunciative, an argumentative structure may also be present. The descriptive structure also appears in them, since facts are often described.

In the cases of analytical-descriptive reviews, both the content and the structure of the text are analyzed in the most objective way possible.

Commonly, data on the purpose of the text and its influence with readers is incorporated into the report. Sometimes, verbatim quotes from the writing are incorporated into the report to highlight its key elements.

When the report is focused on the argumentative-expository side, the evaluation is made in comparison with universally accepted standards. The evaluation and criticism of the text is confronted with literary, technical and historical parameters for the subject treated.

Structure

There is no universal format for writing reading reports. However, there are general guidelines that are used as a general base and starting point.

The structure of the report is complemented by the requirements of the reader or readers of the report. According to these guidelines, an initial structure of a report could be:

• Cover of the report. This part includes general data of the work that will be the object of the analysis. Among these most important data are the title of the book, the year of publication and the name of the author.
• Objective of the book subject of study. In this section a mention is made of the subject or topic that the text deals with.
• Brief account of the main ideas of the text that will be the object of the study. Basically, this section summarizes what the book is trying to show.
• Methodology. It consists of a very brief explanation of the steps that will be used in the analysis of the text.
• Review or synthesis of the text. In this part you can include, to give more weight to the work, textual quotes from the book. The citations are placed in quotation marks and following the general format chosen for the writing of the report.
• Personal assessment of reading. This section comprises the subjective part of the report. It is about giving a personal opinion of the content of the text that is under review.
• Reading conclusions. In addition to conclusions, recommendations and suggestions may also occasionally be found in this section.

Types

General reading report

The general reading report or informational reading report represents a high proportion of these types of reports. In fact, it is also called a traditional report.

It is considered the easiest to carry out because it does not require great depth in the subject. This is addressed without delving into any specific aspect.

Analysis report

The analysis report consists of a description of the topic followed by a personal evaluation by the editor. In the reading reports, the subject is treated in depth and at the end there are conclusions that guide the readers.

In this type of reading report, the analysis and conclusions make up its most important part.

Comment report

In the comment reports, greater importance is given to the synthesis of the topic. The arguments are presented with the aim of presenting a simplified version of the text.

Although the creativity of the writer still exists, it does not extend into any type of thematic analysis.

How do you make a reading report?

Understanding the text

Understanding the text represents the first step in preparing the reading report. In this step, the reader approaches the writing trying to understand the ideas expressed by the author.

In the same way, try to understand their motivations and prepare a summary where the content can be presented with fewer words.

The goal in this section is to be able to present the author's ideas in the reader's words. For this purpose there are techniques that help in the preparation of the report. Among these, we can mention:

• Global reading or pre-reading. This tool makes it possible to obtain a quick knowledge of the subject. In the same way, the possible main idea is located identifying the one that is repeated the most throughout the writing.
• Reading. After the quick reading, the reader should make a more careful reading, detecting the secondary ideas and the way in which they are related to the main idea. If there are words that are unknown to the reader, they must consult them in dictionaries.
• Post-reading. A third reading should be done, this time a little faster than the last. The ideas that the reader identifies as the keys to all the work are reviewed again to ensure they are fully understood. In this phase, note-taking helps the process.
• Context. Once the fundamental ideas of the writing have been identified and fixed, the reader must locate the context in which they have their scope of existence. This phase of understanding the text helps to put ideas and facts in proper perspective.

Preparation of the reading report

Once the text has been fully understood, the next step is to prepare the reading report. For this task, the reader has a series of tools, among which are:

• Synthesis. Thanks to this tool, the objective of communicating the content of the text through the reader's vocabulary is met.
• Glossary of terms. The glossary of terms is the list of words that the reader did not know at the time of reading and which they had to consult. At the time of writing the reading report, this glossary must be included. In this way it will serve as an aid to report readers.
• Synoptic table. This is an outline used as a support to represent all the ideas in the text. It can be used as a guide to remember what you have read.
• Mind map. The mind map is another of the tools that allow you to have all the ideas of the text in a few pages. It has the advantage over the synoptic table that the relationships between ideas can be represented more visibly.

Presentation of the reading report

There is no single format for submitting a reading report. However, there are certain elements common to most of these.

Thus, the most used font is Arial or Times New Roman in size 12. Generally, the alignment of the text must be justified and the line spacing (space between lines) is 1.5.

Also, the minimum length of the reading report is usually about three-quarters of the text read. The use of indentation at the beginning of each paragraph and the inclusion of an identification sheet along with the report is also common. This sheet has the data of the work and the author of the report.

Example

Report cover

Title: Socialism: an economic and sociological analysis.

Author: Ludwig von Mises

Foreword: Friedrich August von Hayek

Translator: J. Kahane

Note: This work was first published in the German language in 1922. It was then published by the Liberty Fund in 1981. Later, the Jonathan Cape, Ltd. edition was published in 1969 with correction and expansion of the footnotes in page.

Objective of the book subject of study

The main objective of Ludwig von Mises's work is to definitively refute almost all forms of socialism that have been devised. This analysis is carried out from an economic and sociological perspective.

Brief account of the main ideas

Ludwig von Mises presents a fairly comprehensive and comprehensive analysis of society. In this analysis, he compares the results of socialist planning with those of free market capitalism in all areas of life.

Methodology

In this reading report on the work Socialism: an economic and sociological analysis, a very brief review of the text will be made. Then, some key ideas of the production based on a deep reflection of the contents expressed there will be analyzed.

Summary or synthesis of the text

The author of this work shows the impossibility of socialism, defending capitalism against the main arguments against that socialists and other critics have raised.

A central planning system cannot substitute some other form of economic calculation for market prices, because there is no such alternative.

In this way, he considers capitalism to be true economic democracy. This book addresses contemporary problems of economic inequality and argues that wealth can exist for long periods only to the extent that wealthy producers satisfy consumers.

Furthermore, Mises shows that there is no tendency to monopoly in a free market system. And it looks at reform measures, such as social security and labor law, which actually serve to impede the efforts of the capitalist system to serve the masses.

Personal assessment of reading

The work Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis is a veritable compendium of fundamental themes in the social sciences. His analysis is a particular combination of deep knowledge and insight into history.

This work is characterized by the continued relevance of this great work. Many of your readers will surely find the book to have even more immediate application to current events than when it was first published.

In this sense, Ludwig von Mises's text is one of the most relevant critical examinations ever written on socialism. It is most famous for the penetrating argument of economic calculation put forward by its author.

Reading conclusions

The book is the product of scientific research, it does not seek to generate political controversy. The author analyzes the basic problems, making a description of all the economic and political struggles of the moment and the political adjustments of the governments and parties.

With this, Ludwig von Mises intends to prepare the foundations for an understanding of the politics of the last decades. But it will also help to understand the politics of tomorrow.

This comprehensive critical study of the ideas of socialism allows us to understand what is happening in today's world.

References

1. Catholic University of the East. (s / f). The reading report. Taken from uco.edu.co.
2. Maqueo, AM and Méndez V. (2002). Spanish: Language and communication. Mexico: Editorial Limusa.
3. University of Southern California. (2018). Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Writing a Book Review. Taken from libguides.usc.edu.
4. Virtual University of the State of Guanajuato. (2012). The reading report. Taken from roa.uveg.edu.mx.
5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Writing Center: (s / f). Book Reviews. Taken from writingcenter.unc.edu.
6. Free University. Colombia. (s / f). The report. Taken from unilibre.edu.co.
7. University of La Punta. (s / f). Characteristics of the explanatory texts. Taken from contentsdigitales.ulp.edu.ar.
8. Pérez Porto, J. and Merino, M. (2014). Definition of reading report. Taken from definition of.
9. Agustín Palacios Escudero Institute IAPE Humanist Sciences. (s / f). Stages of the reading process and reading report. Taken from iape.edu.mx.