Analytical Reading

Question 1

To be a demanding reader what questions do you ask?

Answer 1

What is the book about as a whole?
What is being said in detail and how?
Is the book true in whole or part?
What of it? What follows?

Question 2

What are the 3 stages for analytically reading a book?

Answer 2

Stage 1: Finding out what a book is about
Stage 2: Rules for finding out what a book says
Stage 3 Rules for Criticizing a book as a communication of knowledge.

Question 3

Which question of being a demanding reader applies to stage one of analytical reading?

Answer 3

What is the book about as a whole?

Question 4

What are the steps involved in Stage 1: finding out what a book is about

Answer 4

i. Classify a book according to kind and subject matter (inspectional reading can help)
ii. state what the book is about with utmost brevity
iii. Outline the major parts of the book and show how these relate to rule ii.
iv. Define the problems the author is trying to solve (rule iii. should help with this)

Question 5

Which question of being a demanding reader applies to stage 2 of analytical reading?

Answer 5

What is being said in detail and how?

Question 6

What are the steps involved in Stage 2: Finding out what a book says

Answer 6

i. Find out what the important words are and their meaning. Do they change in context?
ii. Find the important sentences and figure out the author’s propositions (the important ones are the ones that confuse you especially!)
iii. Find the arguments, constructed of propositions, the author is stating
iv. Figure out what the author has solved, which problems go unsolved, and which problems the author admits went unsolved

Question 7

In rule 3 of stage 2 it says: Find the arguments, constructed of propositions, the author is stating. What 3 things should you keep in mind when doing this.

Answer 7

1) Every argument must involve a number of statements
2) Discriminate between arguments that use facts for evidence vs arguments that use general statements for them. (one isn’t necessarily bad or better)
3) Observe what the author says he/she must assume, what they can prove, and what they says doesn’t need to be proven because it is self evident

Question 8

Which question of being a demanding reader applies to stage 3 of analytical reading?

Answer 8

Is this book true in whole or part?

Question 9

What are the 2 parts of Stage 3: Rules for Criticizing a book as a communication of knowledge

Answer 9

i. General Maxims for intellectual etiquette

ii. Specific Criteria for Points of Criticism

Question 10

What are the General Maxims for intellectual etiquette?

Answer 10

1) Do not begin criticism until you’ve finished your outline and interpretation of the book. Until you can say I understand, you cannot say I agree, disagree, or suspend judgement.
2) Do not disagree disputatiously or contentiously
3) Present good reasons for critical judgement you make

Question 11

What are the specific criteria for points of criticism?

Answer 11

1) Show where the author is uninformed
2) Show where the author is misinformed
3) Show where the author is illogical
4) Show where the author’s analysis of account is incomplete