Critical Reading

• Critical reading


  Engaging in analytic activity which involves the reader by asking questions about the text and the author's claim
• Reasoning


  The act of giving statements for justification and explanation, the ability to defend something by giving out reasons
• Critical reading as reasoning

  1. Identifying assertions

  2. Formulating counterclaim

  3. Determining evidence
• Assertion


  Declarative sentences that give one's belief about something else as if it is true though it may not be, expressed as an argument
• Types of assertions


  • Fact
  • Convention
  • Opinion
  • Preference
• Fact


  A statement that can be proven objectively by direct experience, testimonies of witnesses, verified observations, or the results of research
• Convention


  A way in which something is done similar to traditions and norms, its truthfulness can be verified only by reference to historical precedents, laws, rules, usage, and customs
• Opinion


  A statement based on facts but is difficult to objectively verify because of the uncertainty of producing satisfactory proofs of soundness, open to disputes
• Preference


  A personal choice in which the writer is under no obligation to support or prove the truthfulness of the statement, subjective and cannot be objectively proven or logically attacked
• Evaluative statements


  • State one's sound judgement about something through writing which is supported by reasons and evidences, present the strengths and weaknesses of something based on a set of criteria which needs to be factual, substantial, and unbiased
• Steps in formulating evaluative statements

  1. Positives before negatives

  2. Suggest a solution or suggestion

  3. Feedback must be concise and precise

  4. Be careful in giving your feedback
• Feedback must be concise and precise
• Be careful in giving your feedback as evaluations pass judgment onto works of authors, they must be written and expressed with care and much diligence