Critical Reading and Writing

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Critical Reading and Writing

• Critical Reading Skills
• Introduction
• Critical Skills, Definition
• Major Characteristics of Critical Reading
• Critique Assignment

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Introduction

• The purpose of this session is to introduce the
  idea that reading (and hence writing) is
  goal-directed. Qualities of the writing (and
  hence the reading) that contribute to those goals
  are valued others are not and need to be
  eliminated. In (social) science, reading is
  directed towards uncovering truth or spurring
  discussion and debate. If the writing
  contributes to those goals, it is critical.

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Critical A Definition

• From critic L criticus lt Gr kritikos, a
  critic, orig., critical, able to discern lt
  krinein to separate lt IE (s)krei-, to sift,
  separate lt base (s)ker-, to cut gt SHEAR, L
  cenere, to separate, Ger rein, pure
• Also related to crisis

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Critical Definition Continued Meanings (among
others)

• 1. Tending to find fault censorious
• 2. Characterised by careful analysis and judgment
• 3. Of or forming a crisis or turning point
  decisive
• 4. Dangerous or risky causing anxiety
• 5. Designating or of a point at which a nuclear
  chain reaction becomes self-sustaining

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The Critical Attitude

• Skeptical Take nothing at face value
• Questioning Always wanting to know why
• Questioning Authority
• Efficient Do not bother with irrelevancies

Is that really true? Why is that true? Who
said THAT? So what? Who cares?
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Three Alternatives to the Critical Attitude

• Didactic A wish to convey as much data and fact
  as is known
• Journalistic A desire to provoke interest and
  force others to take sides (may be biased or
  balanced)
• Revolutionary Motivated to disturb, confuse,
  outrage, entertain or move others emotionally to
  some position

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Didactic A wish to convey as much data and fact
as is known

• There are eighteen products on the market as of
  this date to translate MicroSoft Word texts from
  English into African languages. These products
  are available from the following sourcesOnly two
  of these products handle South African languages.
  According to ComputerWorld products handling
  Venda and Basotho are in devel...

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Journalistic A desire to provoke interest and
force others to take sides (may be biased or
balanced)

Phil Smith, of ContraWare, estimates that even by
2010, there will be only a few non-European,
African-language translators available on the
world market. The markets are too small he
says. On the other hand, Margaret Langa,
marketing director for ComPedi, states that EE
will make it imperative to have multiple
languages in the workplace. However, this is an
opinion not widely held. Most employment
managers think that the trend is towards
unilingual English work environments, reducing
the need for translation. Schools are
definitely moving towards English, says Thadeus
Constable...
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Revolutionary Motivated to disturb, confuse,
outrage, entertain or move others emotionally to
some position
The idea that translating English into African
languages in the workplace is worth anything is
laughable. First of all, we all know that
promoting multiculturalism is a plot to get rid
of Europeans. Second, this would entail far too
much expenditure South African business needs to
cut expenses, not increase them. Third, these
languages are not real languages at all, they
were made up by missionaries. Fourth, its just
another form of socialism in the workplace. We
need to look outward to the world, not inward.
Finally, its well known that these languages
arent appropriate to business in any event, they
have an agrarian origin and cant be used in a
modern industrial society.

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Four Essential Questions for the Critical Reader

• Really? Assertions have to have data, evidence,
  expert opinion, etc. behind them
• Why? An explanation tells why and why that and
  why that...
• Says Who? An authority is only as good as its
  reputation
• So What? Arguments must be relevant and lead
  somewhere facts must be germane

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Five Essential Responses to non-Critical Writing

• 1. Show me the evidence (fact, learned opinion,
  axiom, given)
• 2. Demonstrate impartiality
• 3. Be logical, show the structure
• 4. Stick to the topic, be relevant
• 5. Be concise but complete

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Characteristics of Critical Reading
Find out fact, determine value of article,
generate new ideas, solve problems, evaluate a
situation, entertain
Writing to be Read
Essential Goals of Reading
Is this true, how do I know its true, what
biases are here, do I understand this, is this
relevant?
Critical Judgment
Reading
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Points to Remember for Critical Reading
Writing

Theyre EXACTLY the same
Really? Why? Says Who? So What?