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Critical Reading and Writing

Critical Reading and Writing. Critical Reading Skills Introduction Critical Skills, Definition Major Characteristics of Critical Reading Critique Assignment. Introduction.

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Critical Reading and Writing

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  1. Critical Reading and Writing Critical Reading Skills • Introduction • Critical Skills, Definition • Major Characteristics of Critical Reading • Critique Assignment

  2. Introduction The purpose of this session is to introduce the idea that reading (and hence writing) is goal-directed. Qualities of the writing (and hence the reading) that contribute to those goals are valued; others are not and need to be eliminated. In (social) science, reading is directed towards uncovering truth or spurring discussion and debate. If the writing contributes to those goals, it is critical.

  3. “Critical”: A Definition From “critic” [Lcriticus < Grkritikos, a critic, orig., critical, able to discern < krinein to separate < IE *(s)krei-, to sift, separate < base (s)ker-, to cut > SHEAR, L cenere, to separate, Ger rein, pure] Also related to “crisis”

  4. “Critical”: Definition ContinuedMeanings (among others) 1. Tending to find fault; censorious 2. Characterised by careful analysis and judgment 3. Of or forming a crisis or turning point; decisive 4. Dangerous or risky; causing anxiety 5. Designating or of a point at which a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining

  5. The Critical Attitude Skeptical: Take nothing at face value Questioning: Always wanting to know why Questioning Authority Efficient: Do not bother with irrelevancies “Is that really true?” “Why is that true?” “Who said THAT?” “So what? Who cares?”

  6. Three Alternatives to the Critical Attitude • Didactic: A wish to convey as much data and fact as is known • Journalistic: A desire to provoke interest and force others to take sides (may be biased or “balanced”) • Revolutionary: Motivated to disturb, confuse, outrage, entertain or move others emotionally to some position

  7. Didactic: A wish to convey as much data and fact as is known There are eighteen products on the market as of this date to translate MicroSoft Word texts from English into African languages. These products are available from the following sources…Only two of these products handle South African languages. According to ComputerWorld products handling Venda and Basotho are in devel...

  8. Journalistic: A desire to provoke interest and force others to take sides (may be biased or “balanced”) Phil Smith, of ContraWare, estimates that even by 2010, there will be only a few non-European, African-language translators available on the world market. “The markets are too small” he says. On the other hand, Margaret Langa, marketing director for ComPedi, states that EE will make it imperative to have multiple languages in the workplace. However, this is an opinion not widely held. Most employment managers think that the trend is towards unilingual English work environments, reducing the need for translation. “Schools are definitely moving towards English”, says Thadeus Constable...

  9. Revolutionary: Motivated to disturb, confuse, outrage, entertain or move others emotionally to some position The idea that translating English into African languages in the workplace is worth anything is laughable. First of all, we all know that promoting multiculturalism is a plot to get rid of Europeans. Second, this would entail far too much expenditure; South African business needs to cut expenses, not increase them. Third, these languages are not real languages at all, they were made up by missionaries. Fourth, it’s just another form of socialism in the workplace. We need to look outward to the world, not inward. Finally, it’s well known that these languages aren’t appropriate to business in any event, they have an agrarian origin and can’t be used in a modern industrial society.

  10. Four Essential Questions for the Critical Reader Really? Assertions have to have data, evidence, expert opinion, etc. behind them Why? An explanation tells why and why that and why that... Says Who? An “authority” is only as good as its reputation So What? Arguments must be relevant and lead somewhere; facts must be germane

  11. Five Essential Responses to non-Critical Writing 1. Show me the evidence (fact, learned opinion, axiom, given) 2. Demonstrate impartiality 3. Be logical, show the structure 4. Stick to the topic, be relevant 5. Be concise but complete

  12. Characteristics of Critical Reading Find out fact, determine value of article, generate new ideas, solve problems, evaluate a situation, entertain Writing to be Read Essential Goals of Reading Is this true, how do I know it’s true, what biases are here, do I understand this, is this relevant? Reading Critical Judgment

  13. Points to Remember for Critical Reading Writing They’re EXACTLY the same Really? Why? Says Who? So What?

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