1. GE372 -- Week Four Exploring a Strategy for Critical Reading

2. Lesson Preview: When we listen and when we read, we need to make critical distinctions. There are four steps in reading critically: Skim Reflect Read Evaluate When you finish with your critical reading of an article or book, you identify your “takeaway”— the judgments you think are valid, the facts you think are useful.

3. If you learn anything today…it’s this: Critical reading isn’t simply about reading fast or merely understanding what you read. It is about deciding whether or not you accept or reject what the author says. Just because something has been published somewhere….doesn’t make it true. I know…I know…this might be a new one for some of you. Don’t forget--not everything you see on TV is true.

4. Critical Reading Critical reading is active, thoughtful reading, as opposed to passively accepting whatever appears on the printed page. Critical readers evaluate what they read, and their standard of judgment is not how closely the author’s view matches their own, but whether it is accurate or reasonable. Critical readers are less vulnerable to deception and manipulation than others. “To read without reflection is like eating without digesting.” –Edmund Burke

5. What warrants critical reading? Bus schedule, menu, Wikipedia article, light fiction? Critical reading is most relevant and necessary when the writing is intended to persuade you. I.e., when the author argues for one perspective or opinion over another. Persuasive writing can be found in in every subject—from politics, psychology, finance, religion, popular culture, and business management, chess, even gardening.

6. Arguments Writing that tries to convince you of something, i.e., rhetoric, tries to further a particular argument. Any and all arguments need to be received critically. Remember: propaganda that you believe in is still propaganda.

7. What makes an argument? Facts are not arguable—verifiable facts cannot be argued. Disputed facts are easily settled. Opinions based on personal taste or preference are not arguable. Differing opinions are the basis of all argument. However, you must be careful to distinguish between opinions based on personal taste and opinions based on judgments. Well get to more of this in a minute…

8. Fact or Opinion? The distance between Boston and New York is 214 miles. The Washington Monument is 555 feet high. George looks good in blue. Pizza is my favorite food. George W. Bush was elected the 43rd president of the United States. Video games are a waste of time.

9. Opinions of Taste Opinions of taste are inarguable. Even if a particular preference were backed by strong feelings, it would not be worth debating, nor might you sway someone to your opinion. Opinions are explanations of taste, not arguments.

10. Opinion of Judgment An opinion of judgment is one that weighs the pros and cons of an issue and determines their relative worth. E.g., art—literature, film—or public issues, such as capital punishment. Such an opinion represents a position on an issue that us measured against standards other than those of personal taste—standards that are rooted in values and beliefs of a culture. Opinions of judgment are arguable.

11. Practice Personal opinions or personal preferences can be transformed into bona fide arguments. Personal opinions can be starting points for viable arguments. But those opinions must be developed according to recognized standards of values and beliefs. How can personal opinions become opinions of judgment? Let’s Practice… Vegetarianism Capital punishment Gambling

12. Distinction between the person and the idea This isn’t a perfect world. Believe it or not, lunatics sometimes have good ideas and geniuses are sometimes wrong. If you do not control your tendency to accept or reject ideas on the basis of who expresses them, your analysis of everything you read and hear is certain to be distorted. E.g.…I’m not going to believe/disbelieve anything he/she says because they have a different political/religious/ethnic/racial background than I do.

13. Distinction between fact and interpretation A fact is something known with certainty, something either objectively verifiable or demonstrable An interpretation is an explanation of meaning or significance. How are facts sometimes interpreted. By what tools or lenses? The danger in failing to distinguish between fact and interpretation is that you will regard uncritically statements that ought to be questioned and contrasted with other views.

14. Distinction between literal and ironic statements. irony 1 |ˈīrənē; ˈiərnē| noun ( pl. -nies) the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect : “Don't go overboard with the gratitude,” he rejoined with heavy irony. See note at wit . Not everything is said to be taken literally. My older sister didn’t like Napoleon Dynamite. She thought it was a cruel movie. The satirical elements went over her head. Satire vs. Parody: Who knows? What’s their use/power?

15. Distinction between an idea’s validity and the quality of its expression The way an idea is expressed can influence people’s reactions. Impassioned, eloquent expression tends to excite a favorable response. Inarticulate, error-filled expression prompts a negative response. Can anyone think of an example of when bad ideas were widely accepted due to high-quality expression? PFTW 1:12:34

16. Distinction between language and reality Don’t ever forget: No language is perfectly suited to express all realities. Have you ever loved or hated something so much you were at a loss of words? Some languages have words that don’t perfectly translate into other languages. Sometimes the truth of the matter gets lost in translation, even when two people are speaking the same language.

17. Reading Critically When you look beyond the surface of words and thoughts to think about the ideas and their meaning and significance, you are reading critically.

18. Reading Critically Critical reading is active reading. It involves asking questions and not necessarily accepting the writer’s statements at face value. Critical readers ask questions of authors such as: What do you mean by that phrase? Can you support that statement? How do you define that term? Why is this observation important? How did you arrive at that conclusion? Do other experts agree with you? Is this evidence up-to-date? The relevance of certain events and facts change over time. E.g., the second amendment means something different to us today than when James Madison in 1789. Why? What facts have changed?

19. Reading Critically By asking such questions, you are weighing the writer’s claims, asking for definitions, evaluating information, looking for proof, questioning assumptions, and making judgments. In short, you are actively engaged in thinking like a critic.

20. Why Read Critically? Critical reading is a process of discovery. You discover where an author stands on an issue, and you discover the strengths and weaknesses of an author’s argument. The result is that you have a better understanding of the issue. Critical reading not only sharpens your focus on an issue—it also heightens your ability to construct and evaluate your own arguments. Remember: the first step to becoming a better writer is to cultivate critical reading skills. Good writers look at the written word the way a carpenter looks at a house—they study the fine details and how those details connect to create the whole. The better you become at analyzing and reacting to another’s written work, the better you are at analyzing and reacting to your own. Good self-editors apply critical questions to their own writing. UP NEXT ARE FOUR TECHNQUES YOU CAN USE WHEN READING CRITICALLY

21. Critical Reading Techniques:Preview the Reading Who is the writer? Background? Career? Political/personal beliefs? Example: Sean Hannity vs. Chris Matthews. More examples on page 29. Where was the article originally published? Publications are usually designed for a specific audience. Examples: Tabloids vs. The New York Times; medical journals vs. Newsweek/Time. When was the article originally published? Is the cited evidence current or historical? What was the current economic situation like? What does the title reveal about the subject and the author’s attitude toward it? Are there negative or positive connotations? Does the title try to draw a parallel with a historical event? By considering the language in a title, you will be more aware of the writer’s intent.

22. Critical Reading Techniques:Skim the Reading Seek a general idea of subject and intent—look for a piece of writing’s basic features. Try to discover the topic and claim. A basic strategy for this—read the first one or two paragraphs and the last paragraph. If the reading is longer, you may need to examine additional sentences here and there.

23. Critical Reading Techniques:Consider Your Own Experience Critical reading brings your own perspective, experience, education, and personal values to your reading. You may have familiar or pre-conceived ideas about a topic, and you may not. Before beginning a close reading, take the time to reflect on these questions: What do I know about this subject? What have I heard or read about it recently? What attitudes or opinions do I have about the subject? You can write down your reflections as a personal essay in your journal.

24. Critical Reading Techniques:Annotate the Reading Common annotation methods: Highlight or underline passages that you consider significant. Write questions in the margins that respond to the writer’s ideas or that you wish to follow up with further investigation. See pp 36-37 Circle words or phrases that need to be defined or made clear. Add comments or brief examples of your own that support or challenge the writer’s. Draw lines between related ideas. Note the writer’s use of transitions and qualifiers that subtly shade meaning. Point out with arrows or asterisks particularly persuasive examples. Mark difficult-to-understand sections of the text that need a closer look. Writing your thoughts in margins is very useful for later reference. DON’T BE AFRAID TO MARK UP YOUR OWN BOOKS.

25. Critical Reading Techniques:Summarize the Reading Capture the essential meaning of a reading by focusing only on the writer’s main points. All summaries share these qualities: Considerably shorter than the original. Written in your own words. Is objective—leave out personal opinions and comments. Is accurate—sometimes it takes several readings to provide a reliable summary. Is thorough—despite its shorter length, a summary captures all main ideas. A good method to begin summarizing a reading is to write a one-sentence summary of the ideas in each paragraph. Examples pp. 38 39 The one-sentence summaries of each paragraph can be woven together to form a more thorough summary

26. Critical Reading Techniques:Analyze and Evaluate the Reading To analyze something means to break it down into its separate parts, examine those parts closely, and evaluate their significance and how they work together as a whole. Analysis goes beyond identifying the ideas in the essay—it considers how each part of the essay functions. Analysis considers the assumptions and intentions of the writer. Analysis helps us consider how successfully and effectively the writer has argued something.

27. Critical Reading Techniques:Analyze and Evaluate the Reading Although there is no set formula for analyzing an argument, here are some questions you should explore when reading an essay that is meant to persuade you: What are the writer’s assumptions? What does the writer take for granted about the readers’ values, beliefs, or knowledge? What does the writer assume about the subject of the essay or the facts involved? What kind of audience is the writer addressing? What are the writer’s purpose and intention? How well does the writer accomplish those purposes? What kinds of evidence has the writer used—personal experience or scientific data or outside authorities? How convincing is the evidence presented? Is it relevant? Is it reliable? Is it specific enough? Is it sufficient? Is it slanted or dated? Does the writer’s logic seem reasonable? Did the writer address opposing views? Is the writer persuasive? Let’s talk about these questions as they apply to the article on binge drinking.

28. Critical Reading Techniques:Argue with the Reading Asking questions and challenging assumptions are important ways to read critically. You have every right to determine whether an argument is sound, logical, and convincing. Recording your thoughts in the margins of a text is a good idea—but keeping a journal of your thoughts is a better strategy for beginning writers. This may seem time consuming, but remember—life is not a race. What are you filling your time with anyway? You may start by jotting down any points in the essay that contradict your own experience or personal views. Note anything that you are skeptical about. Be on the look out for logical fallacies in the writer’s logic—whether intentionally or purposefully. Why would someone intentionally employ faulty logic? Think about ads. Likewise, make note of the features of the text that impress you—powerfully made points, interesting wording, original insights, clever or amusing phrases, well-chosen references, or the general structure of the essay.

29. Critical Reading Techniques:Create a Debate and Dialogue Between Two or More Readings The more we read, the more complex and thorough our knowledge about the subject becomes. Creating a dialogue between two or more readings is the next step in the process of critical reading. By creating a dialogue between the ideas you encounter in several readings, you will be able to consider multiple viewpoints about the same subject. What would happen if you only got your news from Fox or MSNBC and never considered the BBC? What if you only watched TV and never read any books?

30. In-class Practice Time P. 66: Dialogue example. Which statements are reasonable and which are not? P. 74: Letter to the editor. Evaluate the argument it presents by using the approach explained in today’s lecture.

31. Homework Week Four Writing Assignment: Critical Reading and Response Documentation Due Tuesday, January 18, 2011 Use the ITT Tech Virtual Library to access a news or journal article about a controversial topic. This should be a topic that is hotly debated in American society and the article should be written by an author with an opposing view to your own. Use the materials from Week 3 to help you evaluate your response to the author’s position and the critical reading steps from Week 4 to complete the assignment. The article should contain information about the author, or the author should be so well published that you can find biographical information about him or her on the Internet. (For example, if you feel that the U.S. should allow importation of prescription drugs from other countries, you could find an article by someone who argues that Americans should only be able to buy drugs produced by companies regulated by the FDA. The article should be written by a credible source, like a New York Times columnist.) The article should not be from Wikpedia, some shady Website, or from your crazy neighbor’s blog about gun control and aliens. The length is up to you. The most important thing to keep in mind is that your papers must answer the following six steps: Follow these steps: 1. Summarize the issue and key points the author uses to persuade the reader to agree with his or her position. 2. Identify the author’s personal or professional background and any affiliations that would affect his or her thinking (e.g., is he or she Republican or Democrat?). 3. Using the definition provided in Week 2, is the article simple or complex? 4. Document your reaction to the author’s viewpoint and his or her arguments. Use the following criteria: Do you think your idea or solution to this issue is better/more appropriate than the author’s? Why? Did you find anything the author said that you could agree with? Could you change your mind about any part of the issue based on extenuating circumstances? What most strongly influences your opinions (family, education, ethnicity, political or religious affiliation)? Is there any element of stereotyping that might be part of your response to the author (for instance, you never agree with a Democrat or a Republican)? 5. Analyze the validity of the author’s position on this topic against these criteria: Did he or she use emotionally charged language? Were the experts or evidence cited by the author current, reliable, and apparently credible? Did the author omit significant evidence or ideas that are contrary to his or her own? Did the author commit errors in logic? 6. Analyze the document for any of the other distinctions described on pages 57- 59 of your Ruggiero textbook. Comment if there are examples in the article in which the author expresses personal preference over judgment based on evidence; the line between fact and interpretation is blurred; an ironic statement is used; or the quality of an idea’s expression is out of balance with its validity.