Writing Mattersby Rebecca Moore Howard

Thinking and Reading Critically7

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ComprehendingPurpose of reading material?• To inform• To persuade• To record• To interest

Can you name some examples for each?

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ComprehendingUnderstanding text takes careful thought.1. Preview/scan

• Title/subtitle• Abstract/introduction/conclusion• First sentences and paragraphs• Key terms• Headings/subheadings• Figures/illustrations

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ComprehendingUnderstanding text takes careful thought.1. Preview/scan2. Get the gist

• Read through once from beginning to end.

• Circle unfamiliar words or phrases. • After finishing, close the book and

paraphrase (put it in your own words) from memory.

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ComprehendingUnderstanding text takes careful thought.1. Preview/scan2. Get the gist/paraphrase3. Summarize in your own words

• Restate main idea and key support.• 10% to 50% as long as original.• Helps you remember.• Provides a helpful reference for later

writing.

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ComprehendingUnderstanding text takes careful thought.1. Preview/scan2. Get the gist/paraphrase3. Summarize4. Enjoy

• Think as you read.• Consider details.• Note words and phrases.• Connect to your life.

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Reflecting

Connects reading the text to understanding it.

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Reflecting1. Annotate

• Definitions• Look up words.

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Reflecting1. Annotate

• Definitions• Concepts

• Underline all that is interesting, important, or difficult.

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Reflecting1. Annotate

• Definitions• Concepts• Tone

• Is the writer sincere? Sarcastic? Witty?

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Reflecting1. Annotate

• Definitions• Concepts• Tone• Biases

• What is the writer’s opinion?• What is your opinion?

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Reflecting1. Annotate

• Definitions• Concepts• Tone• Biases• Fallacies

• Errors in logic?• Misleading?

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Reflecting1. Annotate

• Definitions• Concepts• Tone• Biases• Fallacies• Responses

• Ask questions.• Note your reactions.

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Reflecting1. Annotate

• Definitions• Concepts• Tone• Biases• Fallacies• Responses• Connections

• Relate to experience or other texts

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Reflecting1. Annotate

Don’t forget footnotes or parenthetical text.

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Reflecting1. Annotate

When annotating an image rather than a text, follow the steps outlined in the Self-Assessment checklist on p. 115 to focus your efforts.

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Reflecting1. Annotate 2. Journal

• Analyze the writer’s purpose.• Freewrite your reactions.• Brainstorm related ideas.• Outline the text.• Connect the material to your own

ideas.

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Reflecting1. Annotate 2. Journal

A double-entry journal will help you avoid plagiarism by keeping your own ideas separate from the ideas you have found in the text.

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze

To analyze means to break down—to tear apart and consider components.• What do the parts mean?• How do the parts work together as a

whole?

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze

• Consider the major claims.• Evidence?

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze

• Consider the major claims.• Consider the development.

• Counterevidence?• Sources?

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze

• Consider the major claims.• Consider the development.• Consider the organization.

• Patterns?• Classical • Rogerian • Toulmin

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze

• Consider the major claims.• Consider the development.• Consider the organization.• Consider the rhetorical appeals.

• Logos?• Ethos?• Pathos?

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze

• Consider the major claims.• Consider the development.• Consider the organization.• Consider the rhetorical appeals.• Consider the tone and style.

• What do they indicate about purpose? Audience?

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze

• Consider the major claims.• Consider the development.• Consider the organization.• Consider the rhetorical appeals.• Consider the tone and style.• Consider the logical pattern.

• Inductive? Exploratory argument.• Deductive? Persuasive argument.

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret

What is the significance?

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret

• Assumptions• Omissions• Conclusions• Influences• Context

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret3. Synthesize

Connect material to the “real world.”

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret3. Synthesize

• Compare to other texts• Compare author’s other works• Consider outside forces• Connect various ideas• Claims as evidence• Compare to your own understanding

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret3. Synthesize4. Critique

A critique is a well-informed evaluation, positive and/or negative.

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret3. Synthesize4. Critique

• Evaluation• Evidence• Judgments based on analysis• Informed by other texts and/or own

knowledge and experience

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret3. Synthesize4. Critique the author

• What are the author’s goals?• What are the author’s claims?• How credible is the evidence?• What is the author’s expertise?

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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret3. Synthesize4. Critique yourself

• What is your purpose?• What judgments do you have?• What are your readers’ interests?

Writing Mattersby Rebecca Moore Howard

Thinking and Reading Critically7

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