critical reading

1. Writing MattersWriting Matters
by Rebecca Moore Howardby Rebecca Moore Howard
Thinking andThinking and
Reading CriticallyReading Critically7
©2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1

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ComprehendingComprehending
Purpose of reading material?Purpose of reading material?
• To informTo inform
• To persuadeTo persuade
• To recordTo record
• To interestTo interest
Can you name some examples for each?Can you name some examples for each?

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ComprehendingComprehending
Understanding text takes careful thought.Understanding text takes careful thought.
1.1. Preview/scanPreview/scan
• Title/subtitleTitle/subtitle
• Abstract/introduction/conclusionAbstract/introduction/conclusion
• First sentences and paragraphsFirst sentences and paragraphs
• Key termsKey terms
• Headings/subheadingsHeadings/subheadings
• Figures/illustrationsFigures/illustrations

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ComprehendingComprehending
Understanding text takes careful thought.Understanding text takes careful thought.
1.1. Preview/scanPreview/scan
2. Get the gist2. Get the gist
• Read through once from beginning toRead through once from beginning to
end.end.
• Circle unfamiliar words or phrases.Circle unfamiliar words or phrases.
• After finishing, close the book andAfter finishing, close the book and
paraphrase (put it in your own words)paraphrase (put it in your own words)
from memory.from memory.

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ComprehendingComprehending
Understanding text takes careful thought.Understanding text takes careful thought.
1.1. Preview/scanPreview/scan
2.2. Get the gist/paraphraseGet the gist/paraphrase
3.3. Summarize in your own wordsSummarize in your own words
• Restate main idea and key support.Restate main idea and key support.
• 10% to 50% as long as original.10% to 50% as long as original.
• Helps you remember.Helps you remember.
• Provides a helpful reference for laterProvides a helpful reference for later
writing.writing.

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ComprehendingComprehending
Understanding text takes careful thought.Understanding text takes careful thought.
1.1. Preview/scanPreview/scan
2.2. Get the gist/paraphraseGet the gist/paraphrase
3.3. SummarizeSummarize
4.4. EnjoyEnjoy
• Think as you read.Think as you read.
• Consider details.Consider details.
• Note words and phrases.Note words and phrases.
• Connect to your life.Connect to your life.

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ReflectingReflecting
Connects reading the text toConnects reading the text to
understanding it.understanding it.

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ReflectingReflecting
1.1. AnnotateAnnotate
• DefinitionsDefinitions
• Look up words.Look up words.

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ReflectingReflecting
1.1. AnnotateAnnotate
• DefinitionsDefinitions
• ConceptsConcepts
• Underline all that is interesting,Underline all that is interesting,
important, or difficult.important, or difficult.

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ReflectingReflecting
1.1. AnnotateAnnotate
• DefinitionsDefinitions
• ConceptsConcepts
• ToneTone
• Is the writer sincere? Sarcastic?Is the writer sincere? Sarcastic?
Witty?Witty?

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ReflectingReflecting
1.1. AnnotateAnnotate
• DefinitionsDefinitions
• ConceptsConcepts
• ToneTone
• BiasesBiases
• What is the writer’s opinion?What is the writer’s opinion?
• What is your opinion?What is your opinion?

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ReflectingReflecting
1.1. AnnotateAnnotate
• DefinitionsDefinitions
• ConceptsConcepts
• ToneTone
• BiasesBiases
• FallaciesFallacies
• Errors in logic?Errors in logic?
• Misleading?Misleading?

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ReflectingReflecting
1.1. AnnotateAnnotate
• DefinitionsDefinitions
• ConceptsConcepts
• ToneTone
• BiasesBiases
• FallaciesFallacies
• ResponsesResponses
• Ask questions.Ask questions.
• Note your reactions.Note your reactions.

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ReflectingReflecting
1.1. AnnotateAnnotate
• DefinitionsDefinitions
• ConceptsConcepts
• ToneTone
• BiasesBiases
• FallaciesFallacies
• ResponsesResponses
• ConnectionsConnections
• Relate to experience or other textsRelate to experience or other texts

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ReflectingReflecting
1.1. AnnotateAnnotate
Don’t forget footnotes or parentheticalDon’t forget footnotes or parenthetical
text.text.

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ReflectingReflecting
1.1. AnnotateAnnotate
When annotating an image rather than aWhen annotating an image rather than a
text, follow the steps outlined in the Self-text, follow the steps outlined in the Self-
Assessment checklist on p. 115 to focusAssessment checklist on p. 115 to focus
your efforts.your efforts.

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ReflectingReflecting
1.1. AnnotateAnnotate
2.2. JournalJournal
• Analyze the writer’s purpose.Analyze the writer’s purpose.
• Freewrite your reactions.Freewrite your reactions.
• Brainstorm related ideas.Brainstorm related ideas.
• Outline the text.Outline the text.
• Connect the material to your ownConnect the material to your own
ideas.ideas.

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ReflectingReflecting
1.1. AnnotateAnnotate
2.2. JournalJournal
A double-entry journal will help youA double-entry journal will help you
avoid plagiarism by keeping youravoid plagiarism by keeping your
own ideas separate from the ideasown ideas separate from the ideas
you have found in the text.you have found in the text.

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
To analyze means to break down—toTo analyze means to break down—to
tear apart and consider components.tear apart and consider components.
•What do the parts mean?What do the parts mean?
•How do the parts work together as a whole?How do the parts work together as a whole?

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
• Consider the major claims.Consider the major claims.
• Evidence?Evidence?

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
• Consider the major claims.Consider the major claims.
• Consider the development.Consider the development.
• Counterevidence?Counterevidence?
• Sources?Sources?

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
• Consider the major claims.Consider the major claims.
• Consider the development.Consider the development.
• Consider the organization.Consider the organization.
• Patterns?Patterns?
• ClassicalClassical
• RogerianRogerian
• ToulminToulmin

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
• Consider the major claims.Consider the major claims.
• Consider the development.Consider the development.
• Consider the organization.Consider the organization.
• Consider the rhetorical appeals.Consider the rhetorical appeals.
• Logos?Logos?
• Ethos?Ethos?
• Pathos?Pathos?

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
• Consider the major claims.Consider the major claims.
• Consider the development.Consider the development.
• Consider the organization.Consider the organization.
• Consider the rhetorical appeals.Consider the rhetorical appeals.
• Consider the tone and style.Consider the tone and style.
• What do they indicate aboutWhat do they indicate about
purpose? Audience?purpose? Audience?

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
• Consider the major claims.Consider the major claims.
• Consider the development.Consider the development.
• Consider the organization.Consider the organization.
• Consider the rhetorical appeals.Consider the rhetorical appeals.
• Consider the tone and style.Consider the tone and style.
• Consider the logical pattern.Consider the logical pattern.
• Inductive? Exploratory argument.Inductive? Exploratory argument.
• Deductive? Persuasive argument.Deductive? Persuasive argument.

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
2.2. InterpretInterpret
What is the significance?What is the significance?

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
2.2. InterpretInterpret
• AssumptionsAssumptions
• OmissionsOmissions
• ConclusionsConclusions
• InfluencesInfluences
• ContextContext

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
2.2. InterpretInterpret
3.3. SynthesizeSynthesize
Connect material to the “real world.”Connect material to the “real world.”

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
2.2. InterpretInterpret
3.3. SynthesizeSynthesize
• Compare to other textsCompare to other texts
• Compare author’s other worksCompare author’s other works
• Consider outside forcesConsider outside forces
• Connect various ideasConnect various ideas
• Claims as evidenceClaims as evidence
• Compare to your own understandingCompare to your own understanding

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
2.2. InterpretInterpret
3.3. SynthesizeSynthesize
4.4. CritiqueCritique
A critique is aA critique is a well-informedwell-informed evaluation,evaluation,
positive and/or negative.positive and/or negative.

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
2.2. InterpretInterpret
3.3. SynthesizeSynthesize
4.4. CritiqueCritique
• EvaluationEvaluation
• EvidenceEvidence
• Judgments based on analysisJudgments based on analysis
• Informed by other texts and/or ownInformed by other texts and/or own
knowledge and experienceknowledge and experience

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
2.2. InterpretInterpret
3.3. SynthesizeSynthesize
4.4. CritiqueCritique the authorthe author
• What are the author’s goals?What are the author’s goals?
• What are the author’s claims?What are the author’s claims?
• How credible is the evidence?How credible is the evidence?
• What is the author’s expertise?What is the author’s expertise?

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Preparing to WritePreparing to Write
1.1. AnalyzeAnalyze
2.2. InterpretInterpret
3.3. SynthesizeSynthesize
4.4. CritiqueCritique yourselfyourself
• What is your purpose?What is your purpose?
• What judgments do you have?What judgments do you have?
• What are your readers’ interests?What are your readers’ interests?

34. Writing MattersWriting Matters
by Rebecca Moore Howardby Rebecca Moore Howard
Thinking andThinking and
Reading CriticallyReading Critically7
©2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 34