Copyright © 1995–2007 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Tenth Edition CRITICAL READING
Copyright © 1995–2007 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Tenth Edition TIPS FOR BECOMING AN ACADEMIC WRITER äStudy the syllabus for each course. This outline lays out the instructor’s expectations as well as the course topics, assignments, and deadlines. äDo the assigned reading. You’ll gain experience with the discipline’s terms and ideas, and you’ll become familiar with the kinds of writing expected from you. äAttend and participate in class. äAsk questions. äUnderstand the writing situation posed by each assignment. Knowing your audience, purpose, options for subjects, and other elements of the situation will help you meet the assignment’s expectations. 6.1
Copyright © 1995–2007 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Tenth Edition TIPS FOR TAKING CLASS NOTES äUse your own words. äLeave space in your notes if you miss something. äInclude any reading content mentioned by your instructor. äReview your notes shortly after class. 7.1
Copyright © 1995–2007 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Tenth Edition WRITING A SUMMARY äUnderstand the meaning. äUnderstand the organization. äDistill each section. äState the main idea. äSupport the main idea. äUse your own words. 7.2
Copyright © 1995–2007 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Tenth Edition TECHNIQUES OF CRITICAL READING 1Writing: making notes on your reading throughout the process 1Previewing: getting background; skimming 1Reading: interacting with and absorbing the text 1Summarizing: distilling and understanding content 1Forming your critical response 8.1 For reading a work of literature, which requires a somewhat difference approach, see pp Analyzing: separating into parts Interpreting: inferring meaning and assumptions Synthesizing: reassembling parts; making connections Evaluating: judging quality and value
Copyright © 1995–2007 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Tenth Edition QUESTIONS FOR PREVIEWING A TEXT 1What is the work’s subject and structure? 1What are the facts of publication? 1What do you know about the author? 1What is your preliminary response? 8.2
Copyright © 1995–2007 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Tenth Edition Guidelines for Analysis, Interpretation, and Synthesis 1What is the purpose of your reading? 1What questions do you have about the work, given your purpose? 1What elements does the most interesting question highlight? What elements might you ignore as a result? 1How do you interpret the meaning and significance of the elements? What are your assumptions about the work? What do you infer about the author’s assumptions? 1What patterns can you see in (or synthesize from) the elements? How do the elements relate? How does this whole work relate to other works? 1What do you conclude about the work? What does this conclusion add to the work? 8.3
Copyright © 1995–2007 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Tenth Edition QUESTIONS FOR PREVIEWING AN IMAGE 1What do you see? What is most striking about the image? What is the subject? What is the gist of any text or symbols? What is the overall effect of the image? 1What are the facts of the publication? Where did you first see the image? Do you think the image was created especially for that location or for others as well? What can you tell about when the image was created? 1What do you know about the person or group that created the image? For instance, was the creator an artist, scholar, news organization, or corporation? What seems to have been the creator’s purpose? 1What is your preliminary response? What about the image interests, confuses, or disturbs you? Are the form, style, and subject familiar or unfamiliar? How might your knowledge, experiences, and values influence your reception of the image? 8.4
Copyright © 1995–2007 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Tenth Edition ELEMENTS OF IMAGES äEmphasis äNarration äPoint of view äArrangement äColor äCharacterization äContext äTension äAllusions 8.5