Unit 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What are 4 steps of critical analysis of writing?

A
  1. Read carefully and determine the topic and major conclusions of the passage.
  2. Identify the arguments or theories presented.
  3. Analyze the arguments/theories presented.
  4. Evaluate each argument\theory and the passage as a whole.
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2
Q

Where is the best place to look to determine the topic of a piece of writing?

A

The introductory material: first few paragraphs, the title.

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3
Q

Should you incorporate the main points into the topic of the passage?

A

No.

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4
Q

When is the author presenting an argument?

A

When he/she gives reasons for believing something or acting in a certain way. Reason is the keyword here.

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5
Q

What are some argument “indicator words”?

A

Because, therefore, hence, since, it follows that, so.

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6
Q

Do argument indicator words absolutely indicate the presence of an argument?

A

No.

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7
Q

What is the difference between descriptive and argumentative writing?

A

The purpose. In descriptive writing, the author is describing something. In argumentative writing the author is trying to prove something by giving reasons.

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8
Q

What is a diatribe?

A

Diatribe is bitter and violent criticism.

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9
Q

What is explanation?

A
  1. The answer to the questions “why” or “how”.
  2. The answers about why something happened or happens.
  3. Why something is the case.
  4. How to do something.
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10
Q

How is explanation different from argument?

A

In explanation we are not trying to prove anything, just explain something that is known already.

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11
Q

What is one strategy to differentiate between explanation and an argument?

A

To give a passage a test drive. Pretend that it is an explanation and see if it makes sense as such. Then pretend it is an argument.

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12
Q

What is meant by argument analysis?

A
  1. Distinguish all premises and conclusions.

2. Indicating which premises lead to which conclusions.

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13
Q

What is a principle of charitable interpretation?

A

It is that we should always try to interpret an argument in the way that makes it most reasonable

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14
Q

What are the steps of a critical writing?

A
  1. State your arguments.
  2. State objections that one might have to your arguments.
  3. State replies to those objections.
  4. State opposing arguments.
  5. State replies to the opposing arguments.
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15
Q

What problems do authors of the course book see with the practice of leaving the important decisions to experts?

A
  1. How do we decide of experts in which fields to turn to when we need a certain problem solved.
  2. Experts disagree on topics.
  3. Experts can be personally or politically interested in certain view of the topic.
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16
Q

What strategy do authors of the book suggest to dealing with the issue of relying on experts?

A
  1. Create your own arguments and theories.

2 .Cautiously rely on experts.

17
Q

When the piece of writing is a description?

A

When the author is attmepting to:

  1. State what has happened.
  2. State what is the case
  3. State what something is like.
18
Q

What should you do to determine the main topics of a written work?

A

Ask yourself what the author is saying about the topic.

19
Q

“The stock market crashed because the investors lost confidence” - is this an argument of explanation?

A

This is an explanation. We are not trying to prove that the market has crashed - we already know it did. What we are trying to do is to explain why.