Transcript Example

Chapter 11: Critical Reading
Breaking Through:
College Reading, 8/e
by Brenda Smith
©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers
What Do Critical Readers Do?
Use direct statements.
Make inferences.
Use prior knowledge.
Use language clues.
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Critical Readers Recognize
the Author's Purpose or Intent
To inform.
To persuade.
To entertain.
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Critical Readers Recognize the
Author’s Point of View or Bias
Point of View: Author’s opinion or
position on the subject.
Bias:
is an opinion or a judgment
associated with prejudice.
has a negative connotation.
may not tell both sides of the issue.
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Critical Readers Recognize
the Author’s Tone or Attitude
Angry
Cheerful
Depressed
Distressed
Formal
Frustrated
Humorous
Objective
Optimistic
Pessimistic
Serious
Righteous
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Example of Tone
Tiger Woods doesn’t just play golf well, he
plays better than anyone in the world. By age
3, the amazing Tiger shot 48 to 9 holes, and
at age 8 he won an international junior
tournament.
The tone is:



nostalgic
ironic
admiring
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Critical Readers Distinguish
Fact from Opinion
Fact: a statement
that can be
proven true or
false
Opinion: a
statement of
feeling that
cannot be proven
right or wrong
Example: The temperature
in the class is 78.
Example: This classroom
is always hot and
stuffy!
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Critical Readers Recognize Valid and
Invalid Support for Arguments
Fallacy: an error in
reasoning that can
give an illusion of
support.
Example: Everybody has
these shoes; so should
you. [bandwagon]
Propaganda: where
fallacies are
prevalent,
especially in
advertisements.
Example: Tiger Woods is
in an ad for sports
shoes to persuade you
to buy them.
[testimonial]
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Fallacies in Propaganda
Testimonials
Bandwagon
Transfer
Straw person
Misleading analogy
Circular reasoning
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Testimonials
Celebrities who are not experts
give their support.
Example: Celebrities appear in
television advertisements
endorsing milk, wearing “milk
mustaches.”
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Bandwagon
You will be left out if you do not
join the crowd.
Example: All the voters in the
district support Henson for
Senator.
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Transfer
A famous person is associated with
an argument.
Example: George Washington
indicated in a quote that he would
have agreed with us on this issue.
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Straw Person
A simplistic exaggeration is set up to
represent the argument.
Example: The professor replied, “If I
delay the exam, you’ll expect me to
change the due dates of all papers
and assignments.”
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Misleading Analogy
Two things are compared as
similar that actually are
distinctly different.
Example: Studying is like taking
a shower; most of the material
goes down the drain.
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Circular Reasoning
The conclusion is supported by
restating it.
Example: Papers must be
turned in on time because
papers cannot be turned in
late.
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Summary Points
What
What
What
What
What
do critical readers do?
is an author’s purpose or intent?
is the author’s point of view?
is bias?
is tone?
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Summary Points
What
What
What
What
is
is
is
is
a fact?
an opinion?
a fallacy?
propaganda?
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Reading and Studying
Ethics
ASK:
What is the issue?
What positions are presented?
What support is fact and what is
opinion?
Now read the
selection:
What is the conclusion?
Cosmetic
Surgery for Pets.
What is your reaction?
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Evaluating Internet Information
ASK:
What are the author’s credentials?
Who paid for the Web page?
What is the purpose of the Web page?
How do the biases of the author affect
the material?
Is the reasoning sound?
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Visit the Companion Website
http://www.ablongman.com/smith
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