Being an active reader

I’m not sure if this is an entirely correct metaphor, but this is how I interpreted the reading. I would like to begin describing the concept by telling students to pretend that they are the characters from their favorite movie or TV show. Rather than approaching the text like an audience passively watching a film, I would tell students to imagine that the ideas are the setting and they are the characters. I would ask them to reflect on the reading and try to apply to them. Students should consider how they would be affected by the text. A short, written response should be enough to for students to practice this concept. If the reading material was related to the war on drugs, for example, students could try and think about how it would affect them. Whether they imagine themselves as the cops looking for that big bust or criminals taking advantage of the system, it would stimulate them to reflect on the ideas in the text. Follow up discussions could take place in class or online on a forum/discussion board. These conversations could become fun and engaging because each person would likely create a different scenario: some would launch into a carefully worded lecture explaining the dangers and risks involving drug use and other would likely counter with diatribes against the government’s dimwittedness and inefficiency. Assuming the arguments are substantiated with some form of evidence, such discussions are likely to prompt both sides of the argument to think critically and garner interest in the assigned topic. Of course, this “method,” if you could call it one, isn’t foolproof and it certainly has its limitations, but I was hoping it would at least serve as a catalyst for more ideas. Some students tend to groan whenever they are told they will be learning a new concept. I think this would counter that by subtly encouraging students to practice active reading; it would force them to focus and reflect. Some ideas may even challenge their previous assumptions.

I’ve been rereading my post and I fear that it could be a good idea but I didn’t explain it very well. Please feel free to share your thoughts.