1. LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION
Being a Critical Reader

2. DEFEND, CHALLENGE, OR QUALIFY
SUPPORT
ARGUE
VALIDATE

3. DEFEND WHEN YOU WRITE, SUPPORT WHAT THE AUTHOR IS TRYING TO SAY
FIND A MINIMUM OF 3 SPECIFIC REASONS THAT “PROVE” YOUR DEFENSE
USE QUOTATIONS IN YOUR ESSAY
LOGICALLY EXPLAIN WHY THE AUTHOR’S WORDS ARE VALID

4. CHALLENGE
AFTER READING THE ESSAY, DETERMINE THE REASON(S) WHY YOU DON’T AGREE WITH THE AUTHOR
FIND SPECIFIC CITATIONS THAT YOU ARE CHALLENGING
EXPLAIN YOUR ASSERTATIONS
CONSIDER PROVIDING A BETTER ARGUMENT

5. QUALIFY DEFEND VALIDATE THE AUTHOR’S POINTS THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU
FIND EVIDENCE
EXPLAIN WHY IT IS REASONABLE TO SUPPORT THESE STATEMENTS
CHALLENGE
ARGUE THE POINTS THAT YOU DON’T SEEM LOGICAL TO YOU
FIND EVIDENCE
PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION PROVING YOUR POSITION

6. THE WRITING PROCESS

7. COMMUNICATION