1. Critical reading and critique
Ch. 2

2. Where do we find written critiques in the world?
Academic writing
Research papers
Position papers
Book reviews
Essay exams
Workplace writing
Legal briefs and arguments
Business plans and proposals
Policy briefs

3. Critical reading
Critical reading requires you to both summarize and evaluate a presentation
Review: what is a summary?
A brief restatement in your own words of the content of a passage
Two questions to ask when evaluating a piece of writing:
1. to what extent does the author succeed in his or her purpose?
2. to what extent do you agree with the author?

4. Question 1: to what extent does the author succeed In their purpose?
Locate the author’s thesis
Identify the selection’s content and structure
Understand the author’s purpose
Inform, persuade, or entertain

5. Writing to inform Types of informative writing:
A report on a process
A recount of a story
Historical background on a topic
Provide facts and figures
Informative writing responds to these questions:
What (or who) is __________?
How does _________ work?
What is the controversy or problem about?
What happened?
How and why did it happen?
What were the results?
What are the arguments for and against _________?

6. Consider these criteria:
Writing to inform
Consider these criteria:
Accuracy
Significance
“so what?”
Fair interpretation of information
We must distinguish between presentation of facts and evaluation of facts

7. Writing to persuade Writer must begin with an arguable assertion
In other words, a thesis
Examples:
“Because they do not speak English, many children in this affluent land are being denied their fundamental right o equal educational opportunity.”
“Bilingual education, which has been stridently promoted by a small group of activists with their own agenda, is detrimental to the very students it is supposed to serve.”
Which clue words let you know that these are arguable claims?

8. Assess an argument by asking:
Writing to persuade
Assess an argument by asking:
Has the author clearly defined key terms?
Used information fairly?
Argued logically and not fallaciously?

9. Question 2: to what extent do you agree with the author?
Identifying points of agreement and disagreement
Be clear about what you believe and how that relates to what the author believes
Summarize the author’s position
State and explain your own position
Explore the reasons for agreement and disagreement: evaluate assumptions
Your reactions to the author’s position are based on your assumptions
Belief about the world and its operations
The author implies and we, the readers, infer

10. Reading for a critique/evaluation
A critique (evaluation) is a formalized, critical reading of a passage
When you read a selection to critique, consider the following:
What an author says
How well the points are made
What assumptions underlie the argument
What issues are overlooked
What implications can be drawn from such an analysis

11. Writing for an evaluation/critique
When you write a critique, positive or negative, include the following:
A fair and accurate summary of the passage
Information and ideas from other sources (things you’ve read or experienced) if you think these will strengthen your evaluation
A statement of your agreement or disagreement with the author backed by SPECIFIC EXAMPLES AND CLEAR LOGIC
A clear statement of your own assumptions

12. HOW TO WRITE THE CRITIQU/EVALUATION
Five sections:
Introduction
Summary
Assessment of the presentation
Is the information accurate?
Is the information significant?
Has the author defined terms clearly?
Has the author used and interpreted information fairly?
Has the author argued logically?
Your response to the presentation
Conclusion