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Reading Response 3: Arlene Davila
In the article, “Coming to Terms”, Joe Harris describes three essential things that a writer
needs to consider when understanding and giving meaning to the texts of other writers. First, Joe
argues that for one to understand some other people’s texts, they need to rewrite them. Rewriting
helps in making sense. During rewriting, one does not need to expound on the meanings but give
an interpretation on the perspective (Harris 13). Through reading and rewriting the text by
Davina, it is possible to understand the issues and aspects that are dealt with even without a
thesis statement.
Also, Harris talks about “Defining Project of a writer” which one has to engage in prior
to figuring their ideas. In this case, if the thesis is missing, one ask themselves about the intention
of the writer in the text. Understanding this is through delving into ideas and concepts that are
thrown forward (Harris 17). In the writing by Davina, it appears, that the main point is to expose
on the marketing power of the expanding Latino population within the United States. One of the
ways in which the culture of the Latinos has been communicated is through salsa. In fact, the
author alludes that as much as the Latino culture is penetrating the American population, the
culture has not been accompanied by the same level of economic parity or even the political
enfranchisement.
