Week 11: Critical reading

Question 1

reader must dwell on what the text does by making such remarks beyond what it says. From this, the critical reader must identify what the text wholly means based on the previous analysis.

Answer 1

critical reading

Question 2

The website enumerated the three steps of analysis reflecting the three types of reading and discussion:

Answer 2

1. restatement
2. description
3. interpretation

Question 3

What a text says:

Answer 3

restatement (wherein the reader merely restates what is said in the original text)

Question 4

What a text does:

Answer 4

description (wherein the reader discusses aspects of the discussion itself)

Question 5

What a text means:

Answer 5

interpretation (wherein the reader analyzes the meaning of the text as a whole)

Question 6

Prentice Hall has enumerated the following critical reading skills:

Answer 6

1. The ability to distinguish between fact and opinion
2. The ability to identify the author’s purpose
3. The ability to make inferences
4. The ability to recognize the author’s tone
5. The ability to recognize persuasive techniques

Question 7

characterized by its ability to be verified through experimentation, personal observation or credible sources.

Answer 7

statement of fact

Question 8

needs further evidence and other valid supporting details to be proven true

Answer 8

statement of opinion

Question 9

reflects the author’s attitude in approaching the topic

Answer 9

tone

Question 10

The author uses various ____ to color the presentation of facts and to appeal to the reader.

Answer 10

persuasive techniques

Question 11

“specialized vocabulary used by people in a particular field.”

Answer 11

jargons

Question 12

the writing of a passage so that it leans toward one point of view.

Answer 12

slanting

Question 13

Before starting to read a text, it is important for a critical reader to get the initial understanding of the text. Skimming the material enables the reader to grasp the organization and the content of the text.

Answer 13

previewing

Question 14

The text is interpreted by the reader through his/her own understanding of what it is all about. The words do not contain the meaning by themselves. Since texts are all written in the past, it is vital for the reader to consider putting the ideas in context by acknowledging the differences between personal existing values and attitude and the author’s perspective.

Answer 14

contextualizing

Question 15

They say that the best way to learn is through asking questions. Questions can also become your guide and key to understanding the author’s point of view. It is recommended that a reader poses a question in each paragraph that will focus on its main idea. This way, newer knowledge may be obtained at the end of the analysis.

Answer 15

questioning to understand and remember

Question 16

Every person has an existing bias or stand in a certain issue or topic. People have varying beliefs accumulated through years of experience and marking the parts of the text where your personal beliefs are tested is a strategy in critical reading. This is done so the reader can track the pattern in the author’s thoughts and presentation of his/her own beliefs.

Answer 16

Reflecting on challenges to your beliefs and values

Question 17

Applying skills in outlining and summarizing can also help a reader think critically. This is to further examine the author’s paragraph and sentence structure as well as his/her organization of ideas. The key to perfecting these skills is to properly identify the main ideas, the supporting details of the text and the given examples. In outlining, the reader will find out the structure of the text’s main ideas. Summarizing, on the other hand, restates these main ideas in a concise form. This will show how well a reader has understood the text.

Answer 17

Outlining and summarizing

Question 18

A critical reader does not accept everything they read as each text provides assertions on what a reader can consider true. An argument is composed of two essential parts: the claim and the support. The claim is “an idea, an opinion, a judgment, or a point of view that the writer wants you to accept.” The support consists of reasons and evidence that will prove to the readers that the conclusion presented is worth accepting. It is worth noting that both claim and support must be equally consistent with each other for the argument to be deemed acceptable.

Answer 18

Evaluating an argument

Question 19

With various resources and researches at the reader’s disposal, it is also suggested to consult related readings in order to learn how to approach the same topic in a different way.

Answer 19

Comparing and contrasting related readings

Question 20

In analyzing a written text, it is important to take note of the following elements as well as the guide questions that come with it:

Answer 20

• Purpose/Context
• Author/s
• Audience
• Topic and Position
• Research/Sources
• Proof/Evidence
• Organization
• Style
• Drawing Conclusions