Raws

• Critical reading


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


  • Act of giving statements for justification and explanation
  • Ability of someone to defend something by giving out reason
• Steps used in critical reading as reasoning


  1. Identifying assertions

  2. Formulating counterclaims

  3. Determining evidence
• Assertion


  Declarative sentences that give one's belief about something else as if it is true though it may not be. It is expressed as an argument.
• 4 types of assertion

  • 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. Opinions result from ambiguities; the more ambiguous a statement, the more difficult it is to verify. Thus, they are open to disputes
• Preference


  States a personal choice in which the writer is under no obligation to support or prove the truthfulness of the statement. They are subjective and cannot be objectively proven or logically attacked
• Evaluative statement


  A statement that states one's sound judgment about something through writing which is supported by reasons and evidences
• Formulate an evaluative statement


  Read the entire text carefully and critically to understand and to check for possible fallacies in the argument presented by the writer
• Formulating an evaluative statement


  • Begin with the positives before you point out the negatives
  • Suggest a solution/s or suggestion on how to improve the written materials
  • Keep your feedback concise and precise
  • Be careful in giving your feedback
• Counterclaim


  Claims made to rebut a previous claim. To rebut means to contradict someone's statement through a formal argument. They provide a contrasting perspective to the main argument
• Formulating counterclaims


  Address the opposite side of the argument and provide a rebuttal
• Locating counterclaims


  • Show competence and familiarity with the writer's topic
  • Examine different perspectives and not just passively accepting the writer's claim
  • Consider the topic, and make sure you are willing to engage different viewpoints from your own
  • Clarify your personal position on the topic
• 4 types of counterclaims


  • Claims
  • Counterclaims
  • Reasons
  • Evidence
• Claim


  A statement that asserts facts based on one's understanding about a particular topic or issue
• Counterclaim


  The opposite of a claim. It is a statement that contradicts one's claim and is usually proven and supported by both reasons and evidences
• Reason


  The part of an argument where a statement offers an explanation behind a party's claim
• Evidence


  The statement that proves the truth of a claim and generally leads to the conclusion of an argument