Writing Matters by Rebecca Moore Howard Thinking and Reading Critically 7 ©2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1
Writing Mattersby Rebecca Moore Howard
Thinking and Reading Critically7
©2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1
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ComprehendingPurpose of reading material?• To inform• To persuade• To record• To interest
Can you name some examples for each?
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ComprehendingUnderstanding text takes careful thought.1. Preview/scan
• Title/subtitle• Abstract/introduction/conclusion• First sentences and paragraphs• Key terms• Headings/subheadings• Figures/illustrations
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ComprehendingUnderstanding text takes careful thought.1. Preview/scan2. Get the gist
• Read through once from beginning to end.
• Circle unfamiliar words or phrases. • After finishing, close the book and
paraphrase (put it in your own words) from memory.
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ComprehendingUnderstanding text takes careful thought.1. Preview/scan2. Get the gist/paraphrase3. Summarize in your own words
• Restate main idea and key support.• 10% to 50% as long as original.• Helps you remember.• Provides a helpful reference for later
writing.
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ComprehendingUnderstanding text takes careful thought.1. Preview/scan2. Get the gist/paraphrase3. Summarize4. Enjoy
• Think as you read.• Consider details.• Note words and phrases.• Connect to your life.
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Reflecting
Connects reading the text to understanding it.
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Reflecting1. Annotate
• Definitions• Look up words.
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Reflecting1. Annotate
• Definitions• Concepts
• Underline all that is interesting, important, or difficult.
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Reflecting1. Annotate
• Definitions• Concepts• Tone
• Is the writer sincere? Sarcastic? Witty?
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Reflecting1. Annotate
• Definitions• Concepts• Tone• Biases
• What is the writer’s opinion?• What is your opinion?
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Reflecting1. Annotate
• Definitions• Concepts• Tone• Biases• Fallacies
• Errors in logic?• Misleading?
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Reflecting1. Annotate
• Definitions• Concepts• Tone• Biases• Fallacies• Responses
• Ask questions.• Note your reactions.
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Reflecting1. Annotate
• Definitions• Concepts• Tone• Biases• Fallacies• Responses• Connections
• Relate to experience or other texts
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Reflecting1. Annotate
Don’t forget footnotes or parenthetical text.
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Reflecting1. Annotate
When annotating an image rather than a text, follow the steps outlined in the Self-Assessment checklist on p. 115 to focus your efforts.
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Reflecting1. Annotate 2. Journal
• Analyze the writer’s purpose.• Freewrite your reactions.• Brainstorm related ideas.• Outline the text.• Connect the material to your own
ideas.
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Reflecting1. Annotate 2. Journal
A double-entry journal will help you avoid plagiarism by keeping your own ideas separate from the ideas you have found in the text.
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze
To analyze means to break down—to tear apart and consider components.• What do the parts mean?• How do the parts work together as a
whole?
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze
• Consider the major claims.• Evidence?
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze
• Consider the major claims.• Consider the development.
• Counterevidence?• Sources?
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze
• Consider the major claims.• Consider the development.• Consider the organization.
• Patterns?• Classical • Rogerian • Toulmin
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze
• Consider the major claims.• Consider the development.• Consider the organization.• Consider the rhetorical appeals.
• Logos?• Ethos?• Pathos?
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze
• Consider the major claims.• Consider the development.• Consider the organization.• Consider the rhetorical appeals.• Consider the tone and style.
• What do they indicate about purpose? Audience?
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze
• Consider the major claims.• Consider the development.• Consider the organization.• Consider the rhetorical appeals.• Consider the tone and style.• Consider the logical pattern.
• Inductive? Exploratory argument.• Deductive? Persuasive argument.
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret
What is the significance?
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret
• Assumptions• Omissions• Conclusions• Influences• Context
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret3. Synthesize
Connect material to the “real world.”
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret3. Synthesize
• Compare to other texts• Compare author’s other works• Consider outside forces• Connect various ideas• Claims as evidence• Compare to your own understanding
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret3. Synthesize4. Critique
A critique is a well-informed evaluation, positive and/or negative.
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret3. Synthesize4. Critique
• Evaluation• Evidence• Judgments based on analysis• Informed by other texts and/or own
knowledge and experience
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret3. Synthesize4. Critique the author
• What are the author’s goals?• What are the author’s claims?• How credible is the evidence?• What is the author’s expertise?
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Preparing to Write1. Analyze2. Interpret3. Synthesize4. Critique yourself
• What is your purpose?• What judgments do you have?• What are your readers’ interests?
Writing Mattersby Rebecca Moore Howard
Thinking and Reading Critically7
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