I believe that teachers, for the most part, have the correct answer. There are a few times when they may be wrong or their answer could be interoperated differently. I think that most teachers do care about their students interpretations and that if the student is way off, the teacher will guide them in the correct direction.
I approach reading a story and writing an essay pretty similar. I start at the beginning and go chronologically to the end. I write my essays starting with a introduction. I feel like that is what helps me shape my entire paper. If I don’t start with the introduction, I feel my mind go blank and I can’t figure out what to put in my body paragraphs. I approach reading stories and writing essays the way I do for me, not the teacher. It’s how I understand the story better and write better papers.
Stories can have several interpretations. Different people can feel differently about the same story. The theme of a story can have many meanings, depending on who is reading the story and their views. Sometimes I do not talk in discussion because I do feel like my interoperation is wrong. But sometimes, I feel like my interpretation is totally correct and I’m eager to share it with the group.
Usually when I read I don’t write in the margins. But I don’t just skim the reading. I try hard to take in and understand everything the reading is trying to get across.
Jenny 