import

• Context

  The background of the text - socially, politically, culturally, or historically or by circumstances
• Intertextuality


  The connection among texts - relationships among texts in terms of language, images, characters, themes, or subject/topic
• Hypertext


  A non-linear way of showing information, connecting related info., graphics, videos, or sounds to the text using hyperlinks
• Critical reading as reasoning

  Engaging in analytic activity which involves the reader by asking questions about the text and the author's claim, evaluating, analyzing, and interpreting the assertion of the hidden meaning of the whole text
• Hedges


  Words or phrases used to express unfavorable statements in a courteous tone, such as modals, frequency adverbs, and probability adverbs
• Steps in critical reading as reasoning

  1. Identifying assertions

  2. Formulating counterclaim

  3. Determining evidence
• Book review


  Describes and evaluates a work of fiction or nonfiction, offering the book's overall purpose, structure, and style of narration to the unknown readers
• Book review


  • Combines skills of describing the content of the pages, analyzing how the book achieved its purpose, and expressing personal comments, reactions, and suggestions
• Writing a book review

  1. Ask questions about the author's viewpoint, purpose, main points, and evidence

  2. Relate the book to other books on the same topic

  3. Evaluate the author's expertise and the book's success in carrying out its purpose

  4. Determine the appropriate length and title for the review
• Starting a book review

  1. Identify the book by author, title, and publishing information

  2. Specify the type of book

  3. Mention the book's theme

  4. Include background information
• Developing the content of a book review

  1. For nonfiction: pay attention to the major points and sources

  2. For fiction: pay attention to setting, plot, style, characters, theme, language, and voice

  3. Provide reactions, describe the book, respond to the author's opinions, and explore issues the book raises
• Concluding a book review

  1. Relate the book to other books or authors

  2. Relate the book to larger issues

  3. Tie together issues raised in the review

  4. Briefly restate main points and thesis

  5. Indicate how well the book achieved its goal, what possibilities are suggested, what the book has left out, how it compares to others, what points are not convincing, and personal experiences related to the subject
• Revising a book review draft

  1. Allow time to elapse before revising

  2. Correct grammatical and punctuation errors

  3. Read for unity, organization, and logical development

  4. Make major revisions if necessary

  5. Verify quotations and references