For example, have social conditions changed, thus invalidating the argument or making it stronger? thinking, you made logical inferences based on the scenario and facts stated in How might such knowledge or experience have influenced your reception of the argument? Which writer leaves room for response to his text by others and why. umbrellas, so how do you know what was going on? In academic writing, students have to articulate a clear thesis, and identify, evaluate and use evidence to support or challenge the thesis-sustaining arguments and synthesizing ideas. A simple example of critical reading would be: John came inside the house, dripping water from the top The NCTE Policy Brief on Reading and Writing across the Curriculum states that “discipline-based instruction in reading and writing enhances student achievement in all subjects … Without strategies for reading course material and opportunities to write thoughtfully about it, students have difficulty mastering … As stated earlier in the previous chapter, actively responding to difficult texts, posing questions, and analyzing ideas presented in them is the key to successful reading. 0000071283 00000 n
Instruction emphasizes the connection between writing reading and critical from ENG 110 at The City College of New York, CUNY decipher the nuances that are hidden within a simple text. trailer
For example, if we encounter a text that advances arguments with which we strongly disagree, it is natural to dismiss those ideas out of hand as not wrong and not worthy of our attention. Which writer does a better job at avoiding binary thinking and creating a sophisticated reading of King‟s text and why? Study the history of the argument presented in the text as much as possible. After thinking about this for a few minutes and rereading several pages from our class textbook, I think he leaves his “thesis” till later in his piece because he is facing a notso-friendly (if not hostile) audience. With the use of critical See if it makes you think critically! Critical reading is not a process of passive consumption, but one of interaction and engagement between the reader and the text. Scholars (Cavdar & Doe, 2012; Gao, 2013) hold the view that reading widely can improve the learners’ writing abilities, and in the process of writing, the logical thinking abilities will be enhanced. How to Use Critical Thinking in Reading? writing to someone, you can tell something in a not-so straightforward manner. 0000006160 00000 n
By using the word “fellow” in the address, I think he is trying to do two things. Critical reading is not a process of passive consumption, but one of interaction and engagement between the reader and the text. They take notes and write about what they read. Which writer is more likely to use the results of the reading in his or her own writing in the future and why? To illustrate the principles laid out in this section, consider the following two reading responses. This is why schools focus on developing and honing this skill 0000052005 00000 n
thinking is also important in judging fact from opinion, and making your own When students are asked to “critique” a text, which readers are often asked to do, it does not mean that they have to “criticize” it and reject its argument out of hand. 0000011074 00000 n
But that kind of study strategy is not an example of critical reading. Such way of thinking and arguing is often called “binary” because is allows only two answers to every statement and every questions. I will try to use this strategy more in my own papers. 0000002759 00000 n
In reading this passage by King, I remembered once again that it is important not to assume that your audience knows anything about the subject of the writing. They also discuss what they read with others. skills when reading your text, try the following tips: Critical thinking is a skill that can be used in so many early on. Critical reading has other goals, one of which is entering an on-going intellectual exchange. 0000000756 00000 n
Critical thinking in reading and writing will also enhance and train your brain into using this skill in every day events. The Basics of Using Critical Thinking in Business, 11 Effective and Fun Exercises to Learn Critical Thinking, Social Anxiety Detox Practical Solutions for Dealing with Everyday Anxiety, Fear, Awkwardness, Shyness and How to be Yourself in Social Situations. Therefore, it demands different reading strategies, approaches, and techniques. H�lU�n�8}�W�#��X��EJ_6u��.����-�b��U8r �)ү����og.����_ �>��d�F��f��P�_
eiD���ZԵ��1+��DQ�e&��Kh~f��|��~w��������;)�. Knowing the history of the problem will help you to construct meaning of a difficult text. Or, if you are No matter […], Take a look at the different departments of a company and see if you can spot certain characteristics unique to each: The […], In the world of business, being precise and careful is highly recommended. And this skill is an important asset to have, no matter what career or future you want in life. 52 0 obj
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One of the key principles of critical reading is that active readers do not read silently and by themselves. Student “B” Response: No one’s too smart to disregard it as well. Compare the context in which the text was written to the one in which it is read. Specifically, what rhetorical strategies is he using to achieve a persuasive effect on his readers? Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is a very powerful text. King then proceeds to give a brief background of his actions as a civil rights leader. For example, modern texts on highly controversial issues such as the death penalty, abortion, or euthanasia often use past events, court cases, and other evidence to advance their claims. That, in effect, says “you can trust me,” “I am one of your kind.” Secondly, by addressing his readers in that way, King suggests that everyone, even those Americans who are not directly involved in the struggle for civil rights, should be concerned with it. Most academic writing is done in response to reading. 0000009968 00000 n
However, how often do you respond too rashly to a […], No one’s too old to learn critical thinking. aspects of life. 0000008136 00000 n
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reading critically: If you want your readers to use their critical thinking Critical writing depends on critical reading. One of these new approaches is not reading in silence and alone. Does Personality Matter When Choosing A Career? That is another strategy I should probably use more often in my own writing, depending on the audience I am facing. Study why the author of the text advances ideas, arguments, and convictions, so different from the reader‟s own. In creative fiction, this makes for a more unique and dynamic storytelling, 0000004123 00000 n
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But using critical thinking in reading, you would know that: 1) There’s a person named John, 2) it’s raining outside, 3) he didn’t have an umbrella or raincoat. In the middle of the letter, King states: “The purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation.” This sentence looks like a thesis statement and I wonder why he did not place it towards the beginning of the text, to get his point across right away. Critical readers learn to avoid simple “agree-disagree” responses to complex texts. As I read this part of the letter, I was wondering whether his readers would really have not known what he had accomplished as a civil rights leader. of his head down to the soles of his shoes. Critical Critical reading is the use of critical thinking in reading. To continue with our example from the preceding paragraph, a reader who responds to a controversial text rather than reacting to it might apply several of the following strategies before forming and expressing an opinion about that text. 0000001313 00000 n
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Sometimes, we as readers are not in a position to either simply support an argument or reject it. which will be more enjoyable to the reader. Works on an emotional level rather than an intellectual level, Prevents readers from studying purposes, intended audiences, and contexts of texts they are working with, Fails to establish dialog between the reader and the text by locking the reader in his or her pre-existing opinion about the argument, Works on an intellectual and emotional level by asking the readers to use all three rhetorical appeals in reading and writing about the text, Allows for careful study of the text’s rhetorical aspects, Establishes dialogue among the reader, text, and other readers by allowing all sides to reconsider existing positions and opinions, Provides only “agree or disagree” answers, Does not allow for an understanding of complex arguments, Prevents the reader from a true rhetorical engagement with the text, Allows for a deep and detailed understanding of complex texts, Takes into account “gray areas” of complex arguments, Establishes rhetorical engagement between the reader and the text. 0000001133 00000 n
Reading between the lines means understanding what you’ve His ultimate goal is to show to his audience that his actions were non-violent but peaceful. A wall of disagreement that existed between the reader and the text before the reading continues to exist after the reading. The sentence about John never mentioned any rain or Critical readers who possess this skill are not willing to simply reject or accept the arguments presented in the text after the first reading right away. 0000007154 00000 n
opinions based on facts and logic. Which response fulfills the goals set in the prompt better and why? Study the purpose and the intended audience of the text. You’ll have most likely encountered this during your school years, when an exam But the world of ideas is complex, and a much more nuanced approach is needed when dealing with complex arguments. Responding to a text, on the other hand, requires a careful study of the ideas presented and arguments advanced in it. Therefore, when reading critically and actively, it is important not only to take in the words on the page, but also to interpret and to reflect upon what is read through writing and discussing it with others. The ability to answer fact based questions about a novel or story is a form of simple comprehension, but does not indicate in depth the kind of understanding that is necessary for critical writing. In making your decisions, consider such factors as background information that he gives, ways in which he addresses his immediate audience, and others. What students are being asked to do instead is to carefully evaluate and analyze the text’s ideas, to understand how and why they are constructed and presented, and only then develop a response to that text. What we can do in such cases, though, is to learn more about the text’s arguments by carefully considering all of its aspects and to construct a nuanced, sophisticated response to them. Critical thinking is also important in judging fact from opinion, and making your own opinions based on facts and logic. Reading for information and trying to extract the main points, is not conversing with texts, because the reader is not questioning them, and summarizing does not involve connecting the reading with one’s personal experiences or pre-existing knowledge in any way. Consider the author’s (and your own) previous knowledge of the issue at the center of the text and your experiences with it. lets you read a passage or essay and then asks you questions about the text you’ve For example, is the text’s author advancing an agenda of some social, political, religious, or economic group of which he or she is a member? After being jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, King wrote a letter to his “fellow clergymen” describing his struggle for civil rights. 0000008969 00000 n
It is quick and shallow. just read. A school is still the […], Powered by – Designed with the Customizr theme, Tips on How to Use Critical Thinking in Reading and Writing, Critical Thinking Skills in the Workplace. To better understand the key differences between reacting and responding and between binary and nuanced reading, consider the table below. Which responses shows a deeper understanding of the texts by the reader and why? Study the social, political, and intellectual context in which the text was written. His immediate goal is to keep reminding his readers about his activities. PART I: Critical Readers Understand the Difference Between, PART II: Critical Readers Resist Oversimplified Binary Responses, Critical Readers Do not Read Alone and in Silence. In order to write your own analysis of this subject, you will need to do careful critical reading of sources and to use them critically to make your own argument. 0000001420 00000 n
At the time when minorities in America were silenced and persecuted, King had the courage to lead his people in the struggle for equality. King begins his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by addressing it to his “fellow clergymen.” Thus, he immediately sets the tone of inclusion rather than exclusion. read and making judgments based on what you’ve read. Instead, critical readers read with a pen or pencil in hand. <]/Prev 156032>>
Reading between the lines is reading with critical thinking. Writing as well as reading is a form of thinking. Most of the papers you write will involve reflection on written texts – the thinking and research that has already been done on your subject. 0000005229 00000 n
In order to fulfill this goal, it is important to understand the difference between reacting to the text and responding to it. 0000003033 00000 n
In the letter, King recounts a brief history of that struggle and rejects the accusation that it is “unwise and untimely.” Overall, I think that King’s letter is a very rhetorically effective text, one that greatly helped Americans to understand the civil rights movement. the text. But what exactly is critical thinking and how can you use it in reading and writing? named John, 2) and he’s wet. it at face value. Therefore, when reading critically and actively, it is important not only to take in the words on the page, but also to interpret and to reflect upon what is read through writing and discussing it with others. NCTE provides many resources that emphasize the reading and writing connection. Good writers use social conditions to advance controversial ideas. Simply summarizing concepts from textbooks or lecture notes is not critical reading. Here are some tips on how to use or train your brain into Two of the best ways to do this are by reading and writing. 0000001052 00000 n
Try the tips mentioned above the next time you read or write It is easy to see that reacting in this way does not take the reader any closer to understanding the text. 0000002491 00000 n
Student “A” Response: Studies have already found that there is a close relationship between reading, writing and critical thinking. 0000002389 00000 n
Both texts respond to a very well known piece, “A Letter from Birmingham Jail,” by Martin Luther King, Jr. Critical Thinking: Its Definition, Applications, Elements and Processes Experts and educators argue on the definition of critical thinking for centuries. They also discuss the texts they are working with, with others and compare their own interpretations of those texts with the interpretations constructed by their colleagues. Remember that your goal is to explore King’s text, thus enabling you to understand his rhetorical strategies better.”. Critical thinking and reading are done simultaneously, but require active participation. Reading and writing are the two essential tools of learning. The goal of an active reader is to engage in a conversation with the text he or she is reading. Critical thinking in reading and writing will also enhance In the letter, King responds to criticism from other clergymen who had called his methods of civil rights struggle “unwise and untimely.” Both student writers were given the same response prompt: “After reading King’s piece several times and with a pen or pencil in hand, consider what shapes King’s letter. Reacting to a text is often done on an emotional, rather than on an intellectual level. h�b```"WV�k� ��ea�� s�?kfw�;�m�y�4@� Critical thinking is important because you’ll need it to Determine to read for meaning as well as for information. Taking all these steps will help the reader to move away from simply reacting to a text and towards constructing informed and critical response to it. Then it will still be possible to disagree with the arguments presented in the reading because our opinion about the text will be much more informed and nuanced than if we simply agree or disagree. %PDF-1.4
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First of all, he presents himself as a colleague and a spiritual brother of his audience. Then I realized that perhaps he gives all that background information as a rhetorical move. Have you ever heard of the phrase, “to read between the and train your brain into using this skill in every day events. Not every text asks for an outright agreement or disagreement. Most college students are probably used to taking notes of what they read. For example, some people my prepare for a test by reading a chapter or two from a textbook, then closing the book, then trying to summarize what was read on a piece of paper. startxref
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Doing so would be reacting to the text based only on emotions and on our pre-set opinions about its arguments. Hence the word “fellow.” King’s opening almost invokes the phrase “My fellow Americans” or “My fellow citizens” used so often by American Presidents when they address the nation. lines?” It means digging deeper into the text you’ve just read, or not taking Delaying the thesis and laying out some background information and evidence first helps a writer to prepare his or her audience for the coming argument. endstream
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