Chapter 6 Critical Reading Across the Disciplines College

Chapter 6: Critical Reading Across the Disciplines: College Reading and Beyond, 3/e Kathleen Mc. Whorter © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

In this chapter you will learn how to: ¬ Distinguish between fact and opinion. ¬ Determine the author’s purpose. ¬ Recognize the author’s tone. ¬ Recognize bias. ¬ Evaluate data and evidence. ¬ Recognize connotative language. ¬ Recognize figurative language. © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Fact or Opinion? Facts: ¬Statements that can be verified. ¬Statements that can be proven to be true or false. Opinions: ¬Statements that express feelings, attitudes, or beliefs. ¬Statements that are neither true nor false. © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Examples of Facts ¬More than 1 million teenagers become pregnant every year. ¬The costs of medical care increase every year. © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Examples of Opinions ¬Government regulation of our private lives should be halted immediately. ¬By the year 2025, most Americans will not be able to afford routine health care. © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Author’s Purpose ASK: Who is the intended audience? ¬To present information (academic textbooks) ¬To compile facts (reference books) ¬To express an opinion ¬To write for a specific interest group © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Purpose: To Give Information About 14, 000 oceangoing ships pass through the Panama Canal each year. This averages to about three ships per day. © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Purpose: To Persuade New Unsalted Dry Roasted Almonds. Finally, a snack with a natural flavor and without salt. We simply shell the nuts and dry-roast them until they’re crispy and crunchy. Try a jar this week. © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Purpose: To Amuse Man is the only animal that blushes or has a need to. © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Purpose: To Explain If a choking person has fallen down, first turn him or her face up. Then knit together the fingers of both your hands and apply pressure with the heel of your bottom hand to the victim’s abdomen. © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Purpose: To Give Advice If your boat capsizes, it is usually safer to cling to the boat than to try to swim ashore. © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Author’s Tone ¬Instructive ¬Sympathetic ¬Persuasive ¬Humorous ¬Nostalgic © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Words Describing Author’s Tone (Table 6. 1) ¬Cheerful ¬Optimistic ¬Sarcastic ¬Formal ¬Mocking ¬Nostalgic ¬Serious ¬Solemn ¬Sympathetic ¬Indignant ¬Distressed ¬Cynical ¬Amused ¬Joyful ¬Earnest ¬Detached © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Is the Author Biased? ¬Bias refers to an author’s partiality, inclination toward a particular viewpoint, or prejudice. ¬A writer is biased if he/she takes only one side of a controversial issue. ¬Example: A car advertisement describing only positive, marketable features. © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Types of Data and Evidence ¬Personal experience or observation ¬Expert opinion ¬Research citation ¬Statistical data ¬Examples, descriptions of particular events, or illustrative situations ¬Analogies ¬Historical documentation © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Denotative and Connotative Meanings ¬Denotative: literal meaning – group ¬Connotative: implied meanings that carry either a positive or negative, favorable or unfavorable impression – Crowd – Gang – Congregation – Mob © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Figurative Language ¬Similes: compare using the word “like” or “as. ” – The food tasted like cardboard. ¬Metaphors: directly equate the two objects or ideas. – Our computer is a dinosaur. © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Summing It Up: Critical Reading Questions ¬Is the material fact or opinion? ¬What is the author’s purpose? ¬What is the tone? ¬Is the author biased? ¬How strong are the data and evidence? ¬How is connotative language used? ¬How is figurative language used? © 2006 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

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