Notes from video lesson

What does it mean to be a critical reader? If you read a lot, are you a critical reader? Lesson
Introduction.

Review of lesson

Evaluation of text based on the context is critical

Learning objectives

Sample texts about evaluating soma emails and texts.

Q: Are you an active reader?

As a reader, you should not be passive, you are an active constructor of meaning.

Possible meanings of critical.

Movie critique – commenting; expressing judgement

Critical reading; analyze, interpret, evaluate

Critical thinking, to question the text and our own reading of it.

Difference of plain reading and critical reading

Example:

Critical Reading Strategies

LESSON 5: Explain critical Reading as Reasoning

ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS:

Critical reading is an active and reactive process. Critical reading is the foundation of good writing.

Analyzing a writer's claims helps us become critical thinkers.

Analyzing claims helps us appreciate diverse perspectives on a topic. Good claims are always backed up
by reliable evidence.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

What are the benefits of becoming a critical reader? How does critical reading improve my writing?

How can I effectively distinguish among claims of fact, policy, and value?

Why do we need sufficient, relevant evidence, and sound reasoning to support a claim?

OBJECTIVES:

To explain critical reading as looking for ways of thinking;

To identify claim of fact, policy, and value explicitly or implicitly made in a written text; and

To write a 1000-word critique of a selected text on the basis of its claim, context, and properties as a
written material

DEFINITIONS/ KEY TERMS:

 Reading

Defining Reading

But what is reading, anyway? Reading is a cognitive process of decoding symbols to derive meaning from
a text. It is always an interaction between the text and the reader. We read to gain and share
information and ideas, whether for academic, personal, or professional purposes.

Reading is also a skill that can be improved through consistent practice. In order to comprehend the
text, we apply many skills simultaneously while we read: identifying the author's purpose, grasping the
main ideas of the text, locating important details, using context clues to understand unfamiliar words,
answering specific questions, analyzing the text's points, and critiquing the text. These, and more, are
some of the strategies that we can use to help us become better readers.

 Critical reading

Critical Reading Defining Critical Reading

Whenever you read something and you evaluate claims, seek definitions, judge information, demand
proof, and question assumptions, you are thinking critically. This type of reading goes beyond passively
understanding a text, because you process the author's words and make judgments after carefully
considering the reading's message.

But why should you read critically? Reading critically means you are thinking critically. This shows that
you do not simply accept the message on the page. You bring to your reading your own experience and
perspective, and use these to separate yourself from the text and judge for yourself what you consider
important, logical, or right.

This interaction between the text and the reader is necessary because reading results from a negotiation
of meaning between the text and the reader. By reading critically, you find out the author's views on
something, ask questions, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the author's argument, and decide
to agree or disagree with it. Thus, critical reading

You sent allows you to enter into a dialogue with the author-and this deepens your understanding of the
issue or topic discussed. Therefore, to arrive at a sufficient interpretation of the text, you need to
become a critical and active reader.

 Reasoning

TYPES OF REASONING

STEPS USED IN CRITICAL READING AS REASONING

 Critical Reading as Reasoning Identifying Assertions

Becoming a good critical reader means that you are able to logically evaluate the claims of the writer.
Any writer would want the reader to consider-and possibly agree with-the claims that he or she puts
forward. In expository writing, assertions become the primary channel for a reader to assent to a claim.

Assertions are declarative sentences that claim something is true about something else. Simply put, it is
a sentence that is either true or false.

 Read the following examples:

 The sampaguita's roots are used for medicinal purposes, such as an anesthetic and a sedative.
 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.
Types of assertion

There are four common types of assertion, which are classified according to degree of certainty they can
be judged as true or false. How would you classify the previous statements

The first type of assertion is a fact. This is a statement that can be prov objectively by direct experience,
testimonies of witnesses, verified observation or the results of research. Because statements of fact can
be double-checked accuracy, there is general agreement about the truth they posit

The sampaguita's roots are used for medicinal purposes, such as an anesthetic and a sedative

This statement is a fact because it can be directly verified by experience or related research reports

The second type is an assertion of convention. A convention is a way in which something is done, similar
to traditions and norms Conventions depend o historical precedent, laws, rules, usage, and customs.
Thus, their truthfulness is ver by how commonly held definitions and beliefs are interpreted.

Something to note about conventions is that they may sound factual due to the being derived from
customs, but because they are socially accepted ways of don things, they cannot be verified objectively
by measurements

The sampaguita belongs to the genus Jasminum of the family Oleaceae This statement is a convention
because it is based on a classification system mad up by scientists and is acceptable to the scientific
community

The third type of assertion is an opinion Opinions are based on facts, but a dimcult to objectively verify
because of the uncertainty of producing satisfactory proo of soundness Opinions result from
ambiguities, the more ambiguous a statement, the more difficult it is to verify. Thus, they are open to
disputes.

The popularity of sampaguita flowers is most evident in places of worship

The above statement is an opinion because it is based on an observation the needs to be proven by
studies and repeated observation; there are too many facto involved that makes explicit judgment
difficult.

The fourth type of assertion is a preference. Preferences are based on persona choice; therefore, they
are subjective and cannot be objectively proven or logic attacked.

Sampaguitas are the most beautiful and most fragrant of all flowers.

This statement is a preference because it says a lot about the type of flowers the the writer likes, instead
of objectively comparing the qualities of sampaguitas to th of other flowers.

Counterclaim

Different types of hedges

Formulating Counterclaims

To be an effective critical thinker, it is not enough just to be able to identify claims a assertions. The
ability to analyze an argument is essential to understanding the text m deeply, but understanding the
claim is not the only facet of the argument. You must a learn how to analyze the counterclaims and
evidence provided by the text.

Being able to recognize and formulate counterclaims in reaction to an argument is a characteristic of a

good critical reader. Counterclaims are claims made to rebut a previous claim. They provide a
contrasting perspective to the main argument.

By being able to locate and provide counterclaims to an argument, you show a deep competence and
familiarity with the writer's topic. It shows that you are examining different perspectives and not just
passively accepting the writer's claim. It shows that you have thoroughly considered the topic, and are
willing to engage different viewpoints from your own, thus remaining objective. It also helps you clarify
what your persona position is on the topic.

The following questions will help you formulate a counterclaim: What are the major points on which you
and the author can disagree?

What is their strongest argument? What did they say to defend the position? What are the merits of
their view?

What are the weaknesses or shortcomings in their argument?

Are there any hidden assumptions? Which lines from the text best support the counterclaim you haw
formulated?

Determining Textual Evidence

To better evaluate the author's argument, you should be able to determine th evidence from the text.
This will allow you to validate the assertions of the author and yo own counterclaims as a response to
reading. Evidence is defined as the details given by t author to support his/her claim. The evidence
provided by the writer substantiates the text. It reveals and builds on the position of the writer and
makes the reading more interesting

Evidence is crucial in swaying the reader to your side. A jury or judge, for example, relies evidence
presented by a lawyer before it makes a decision regarding a case. Evidence can include the following:
facts and statistics (objectively validated information on your subject); opinion from experts (leading
authorities on a topic, such as researchers academics); and personal anecdotes (generalizable, relevant,
and objectively considered.
The following are some questions to help you determine evidence from the text: What questions can
you ask about the claims?

Which details in the text answer your questions?

What are the most important details in the paragraph?

What is each one's relationship to the claim?

How does the given detail reinforce the claim? What details do you find interesting? Why?

What are some claims that do not seem to have support? What kinds of support could they be provided
with?

What are some details that you find questionable? Why do you think so?

Are some details outdated, inaccurate, exaggerated, or taken out of context?

Are the sources reliable?

The following are the characteristics of good evidence:

unified;

relevant to the central point; specific and concrete;

accurate; and

representative or typical.