RWS

• Critical reading


  Goes beyond passively understanding a text
• Critical thinking


  Think and analyze
• Techniques to develop critical reading skills


  1. Know what you're looking for

  2. Annotating the text

  3. Outlining the text

  4. Summarizing the text

  5. Questioning the text
• Critical thinking


  • Reasoning - rely on reason, not on emotions and opinions, search and ask for explanation
  • Self-awareness - recognize own opinion, bias, and point of view, don't be swayed by author's view point
  • Open-mindedness - be open to alternative interpretations, adding or detaching from your belief
• Explicit information


  Directly and clearly stated in the text
• Implicit information


  Indirectly expressed in the text
• Claim


  Asserts something to be true, tries to prove a point by giving details, evidences, etc.
• Types of claims


  • Claim of fact - asserts the existence of something based on facts & data
  • Claim of policy - argument where actions should be carried out
  • Claim of value - beyond facts and policies, claim of judgment
• Intertextuality


  Gain layers of meaning through citation and referencing of other texts
• Hypertext


  Non-linear way to present information, accomplished using links
• Hypermedia

  Incorporate other forms of multimedia like pictures, sounds, video, etc.
• Reasoning


  Use of reason to explain or justify something, convince people, explain existence of something
• Schema


  Rely on one's previous experiences, and knowledge
• Steps Used in Critical Reading as Reasoning

  1. Identifying Assertions

  2. Determining Textual Evidence

  3. Formulating Counterclaims
• Assertion


  An opinion or a claim, more intense and forceful on the part of the speaker
• Four Types of Assertion

  • Fact
  • Convention
  • Opinion
  • Preference
• Fact


  Proven to be objective, 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, truthfulness is verified through commonly held definitions and beliefs interpretation, historical precedents, laws, rules, usage, and customs
• Opinion


  Based on facts, but are difficult to objectively verify, uncertainty of producing satisfactory proofs
• Preference


  Based on personal choice, subjective and cannot be objectively proven or logically attacked
• Assertions


  • The sampaguita's roots are used for medicinal purposes.
  • The sampaguita belongs to the genus Jasminum of the family Oleaceae.
  • The popularity of sampaguita flowers is most evident in places of worship.
  • Sampaguitas are the most beautiful and most fragrant of all flowers.
• Textual evidence


  Details given to support his or her claim, from credible sources and must be based on facts
• Characteristics of good evidence

  • Relevant to the central point
  • Accurate and Specific
  • Unified
• Counterclaim


  Made to rebut a previous claim, provides a contrasting perspective to the main argument
• Guide questions in formulating counterclaim

  1. What are the major points on which you disagree?

  2. What is their claim? The evidences?

  3. What are the hidden assumptions?

  4. Which lines from the text best support your counterclaim?
• Logical Fallacies


  • Ad Hominem
  • False Dilemma
  • Appeal to Force
  • Appeal to Pity
  • Bandwagon
  • Appeal to Authority
  • False Analogy
  • Appeal to Consequences
• Ad Hominem


  Attack someone personally rather than using logic
• False Dilemma

  Presents argument as one of only two options despite the presence of multiple choices
• Appeal to Force


  Uses a threat, instead of reasonings, to argue
• Appeal to Pity


  Element of pity or emotion is used instead of logic
• Bandwagon


  An argument is considered to be valid because it is what the majority thinks
• Appeal to Authority


  An argument quotes an expert who has experience related to the claim's subject
• False Analogy

  Relies on analogy that is not strong enough to support the conclusion being drawn
• Appeal to Consequences


  Validity of an argument is judged solely based on its consequences
• Characteristics of a Sound Reasoning

  • Ideas were supported with facts from other people.
  • It is focused on the issue.
  • It represent the view of not just one person
  • It does not attack people to discredit them.
• Jerry Seinfeld: 'Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.'
• Academic writing

  • Book Review / Article Critique
  • Research Report
  • Project Proposal
  • Position Paper
• Academic writing


  • Meant for school
  • Tends to be longer
  • Complete sentences
• Professional writing


  • Formal
  • Based on reality
  • Meant to inform people
  • Meant for workplace
  • Tends to be shorter
  • More concise
• Know your purpose for writing