Critical Reading Skilled readers can recognize an author’s point and the support for that point. Critical readers can evaluate an author’s support for a point and determine whether that support is solid or not. Reading critically includes these skills: Separating fact from opinion Detecting propaganda Recognizing errors in reasoning

CRITICAL READING: Separating Fact from Opinion

Fact A fact is information that can be proved true through objective evidence: physical proof or the spoken or written testimony of witnesses. Here are some facts—they can be checked for accuracy and thus proved true: Fact:The Quad Tower is the tallest building in this city. (A researcher could go out and, through inspection, confirm that the building is the tallest.) Fact:Albert Einstein willed his violin to his grandson. (This statement can be checked in historical publications or with Einstein’s estate.) Fact:On September 11, 2001, terrorists destroyed the New York World Trade Center, killing thousands. (This event was witnessed in person or on television by millions, and it’s in records worldwide.)

Opinion An opinion is a belief, judgment, or conclusion that cannot be objectively proved true. As a result, it is open to question. Here are some opinions: Opinion:The Quad Tower is the ugliest building in the city. (There’s no way to prove this statement because two people can look at the same building and come to different conclusions about its beauty. Ugly is a value word, a word we use to express a value judgment. Value or judgment words are signals that an opinion is being expressed.) Opinion:Einstein should have willed his violin to a museum. (Who says? Not his grandson. This is an opinion.) Opinion:The attack on the World Trade Center was the worst act of terrorism in the history of humankind. (Whether something is “worst” is always debatable. Worst is another value word.)

Points about Fact & Opinion 1.Statements of fact may be found to be untrue. Ex: A new breed of tarantulas may be discovered whose bite is Deadly to humans. The original fact that tarantulas are not Deadly would be wrong. 2. Value words equal opinions. Ex: Best, Worst, Better, Great, Beautiful, etc. 3.The words should and ought often signal opinions. Ex: Couples with young children should not be allowed to divorce. 4. Don’t mistake widely held opinions for facts. Ex: Used-car salesmen proclaims, “This is an exceptional vehicle.” 5. Most of what we hear mixes fact & opinion! Use judgment!

CRITICAL READING: Detecting Propaganda Propaganda uses emotional appeals instead of presenting solid evidence to support a point. Advertisers, salespeople, and politicians often lack adequate factual support for their points, so they appeal to our emotions by using propaganda techniques. Part of being a critical reader is the ability to recognize and resist these propaganda techniques.

Review Critical readers evaluate an author’s support for a point and determine whether that support is solid or not. Critical reading includes the following three abilities: Separating fact from opinion. A fact is information that can be proved true through objective evidence. An opinion is a belief, judgment, or conclusion that cannot be proved objectively true. Much of what we read is a mixture of fact and opinion, and our job as readers is to arrive at at the best possible informed opinion. Textbooks and other effective writing provide informed opinion—opinion based upon factual information. Detecting propaganda. Advertisers, salespeople, and politicians often try to promote their points by appealing to our emotions rather than our powers of reason. To do so, they practice six common propaganda techniques: bandwagon, testimonial, transfer, plain folks, name calling, and glittering generalities. Recognizing errors in reasoning. Politicians and others are at times guilty of errors in reasoning—fallacies—hat take the place of the real support needed in an argument. Such fallacies include circular reasoning, personal attack, straw man, false cause, false comparison, and either-or.