CRITICAL READING Becoming an aware and smart READER

CRITICAL READING Definition: A careful analysis of material to determine the intent, purpose and point of view of the writer.

ANALYZING Includes: 1.Identifying opinions from facts 2. Being aware of propaganda devices. 3. Recognizing persuasive techniques

IDENTIFYING FACTS FROM OPINIONS FACT: A statement of information that can be proven by valid evidence. OPINION: A statement of feeling that can’t be proven.

PROPAGANDA Definition: Using written and visual devices that try to convince us to think in a certain way, to purchase certain products or act in a manner we normally would not be willing to do.

Device #1: Glittering Generalities Words that give good and positive feelings although they cannot be specifically explained. Examples: “All American” “family values” “the greatest”

Device #2: NAME CALLING Words that give bad or negative feelings although they cannot be specifically explained. Examples: “unreliable” “un-American” “the worst” “sissy”

Device #3: CARD STACKING By using this device, a propagandist presents selected evidence that supports only one side of an issue or idea. This is very useful in persuasive writing.

Device #4: TESTIMONIAL This device employs a well- known personality to endorse a product, a political idea or candidate.

Device #5: TRANSFER This device takes the good [or bad] qualities of an individual, product or idea and gives them to someone or something else. Example: Our positive feelings for America, the flag, the Statue of Liberty will shift to a product, political idea or candidate.

Device #6: BANDWAGON This device makes us think that everyone is buying this product, seeing this movie, thinking this idea, or voting for this candidate. It implies that you have to do this also or risk being left out.This device appeals to our need to be part of a group.

Device #7: SNOB APPEAL By using this device, the propagandist promises to make the buyer part of an elite group.Usually, it is associated with being wealthy and popular.

Device #8: PLAIN FOLK This device attempts to associate things with ideals that people hold such as the “good old days,” or “small town America” where common sense and goodness was supposed to rule. Plain Folk tries to show that certain ideas are “purer” and less complicated. It’s a favorite with politicians.

Device #9: FAULTY CAUSE and EFFECT This device attempts to convince people that IF they buy a certain product or vote for a certain candidate THEN good things will happen to them. [or the opposite- bad things will happen].

PERSUASIVE WRITING BIASED WRITING Writer expresses her/his strong attitude for or against a subject in an attempt to persuade readers to share that same viewpoint. Persuasive writing will be biased for or biased against a topic but never provides a balanced view.

Persuasive Writing Techniques 1. Oversimplification of Cause Taking a complex situation which may have many causes and stating that there is only one cause for the situation to occur. Implied is: correcting that cause, will correct the problem. This technique is useful in getting readers to accept only your analysis.

Oversimplification of causes- Examples If everyone would recycle their garbage, we would not have an environmental problem. The reason why there are so many people on welfare is that they don’t want to work. Make them work and there will be no welfare.

Persuasive Writing Techniques 2. Overgeneralization Not enough facts to support the statement that is made.

Overgeneralization Example: The situation could not have been worse. The team’s second string quarterback had a thumb injury in the last two minutes of the game. During the third quarter, the leading runner had pulled his hamstring.

Overgeneralization Example: Kids today know nothing about history and geography. They are too busy playing video games to learn anything.

Summary Whether video, film, print ads or writing, the propagandist’s purpose is to: 1. present an unbalanced view of topic 2. Impact us consciously or unconsciously 3. get us to think and act differently than we normally would do.

SUMMARY Reading critically lessens the impact of those who want to influence our decision since we know: 1. techniques used 2. the purpose of techniques used 3. how to evaluate (judge) biased information.