1. Critical reading and Critique
Ch. 2

2. Critical reading Requires both summary and evaluation
There are two main questions associated with critical reading and critique
1. does the author succeed in their purpose?
2. to what extent do you agree with the author?

3. Question 1: Does the author succeed in their purpose ?
Purposes include: to inform, to persuade, or to entertain
The purpose is found in the thesis statement
Writing to inform
Provides definitions
Describes a process
Recounts a story
Gives historical background
Provides facts and figures

4. Writing to inform
An informational piece responds to questions such as:
What (or who) is _______________?
How does ______________ work?
What is the controversy or problem about?
What happened?
How and why did it happen?
What were the results?
What are the arguments for and against?

5. Evaluating informative writing
Criteria to consider:
Accuracy of information
Significance of information
So what?
Fair interpretation of information
Distinguish between the author’s presentation of fact and figures and their attempt to evaluate them

6. Writing to persuade
This type of writing begins with an assertion that is arguable.
Look at pg. 57 for examples
Criteria for assessing the validity of an argument
Clearly defined terms
Fair use of information
Is the information accurate and up to date?
Has the author cited representative information?
Logical fallacies?

7. Writing to persuade Emotionally loaded terms Ad hominem
Faulty cause and effect
Either/or reasoning
Hasty generalization
False analogy
Begging the question
Non sequitur
Oversimplification

8. Question 2: To what extent do you agree with the author?
Identity points of agreement and disagreement
They say, I say
Summarize the author’s position
State your own position in relation to this
Explore the reasons for agreement and disagreement: evaluate assumptions

9. Critique
A formalized, critical reading of a piece of writing that determines the following
What an author says
How well the points are made
What assumptions underlie he argument
What issues are overlooked
What implications can be drawn from such an analysis

10. critique A critique should include the following
A fair and accurate summary of the passage
Information and ideas from other sources (your reading or your personal experience and observations) IF you think these are pertinent
A statement of your agreement or disagreement with the author, backed by specific examples and clear logic
A clear statement of your own assumptions