due in 19 hours ( 4 or 5 pages)

profileMalansari23
analysis-2.ppt
Home>Social Science homework help>due in 19 hours ( 4 or 5 pages)

Critical Reading, Thinking, & Writing

Analysis

*

Analysis: Reading Critically

  • Analyze a text by identifying its significant parts and examining how those parts are related to each other to make a whole.
  • Ask and answer questions about the what, how, and why of a text.

*

Topic and point

  • Identify what the text is about and the main point the writer makes about that topic.
  • State the main point at the beginning and the end
  • Respond to some question or issue the topic raises
  • Signaled by words such as in short, hence, therefore, or my point is

*

Writer’s stance and voice

  • A writer’s stance—where he or she stands in relation to the audience and subject—involves his or her style, values, and way of establishing credibility.
  • Is the writer speaking at, to, or with the audience?
  • What is the writer’s voice?
  • How does the writer sound—like a reasonable judge, an enthusiastic preacher, a thoughtful teacher, or a reassuring friend?

*

Purpose

  • To what extent is the writer’s purpose
  • informative?
  • interpretive?
  • argumentative?

*

Development of ideas

  • What kind of support does the writer use to develop the main point?
  • Does the writer
  • define key terms?
  • tell relevant stories?
  • provide logical reasons?

*

Appeals to emotion

  • Are the writer’s words, phrases, clichés, images or examples emotionally charged?
  • How much does the writer depend on emotional appeals to support his or her point?

*

Effect

  • What is the text’s effect on your images, ideas, beliefs, and actions?

*

Analysis: Thinking Critically

  • Recognize an argument—a path of reasoning aimed at demonstrating the truth or falsehood of an assertion.
  • The assertion must be arguable, an issue about which reasonable people can disagree.
  • A journalism student may assert:
  • As Saturday’s game illustrates, the Buckeyes are on their way to winning the Big Ten title.

*

Analysis: Thinking Critically

  • Concentrate on the type of reasoning the writer is using
  • Question the logical relation of a writer’s claims, grounds, and warrants

*

Types of reasoning

  • Inductive reasoning
  • Also called the scientific method
  • Does not prove the argument is true; instead it convinces reasonable people that it is probable by presenting evidence (facts, statistics, anecdotes, and expert opinions).
  • With three games remaining Buckeyes have a two-game lead over the second-place Badgers.
  • The Buckeyes’ final three opponents have a combined record of 10 wins and 17 losses.
  • The Badgers lost their two star players to season-ending injuries last week.
  • The Buckeyes’ last three games will be played at home, where they are undefeated this season, giving them the home-field advantage.

*

Types of reasoning

  • Deductive reasoning
  • Makes two or more assertions [premises] and then draws a conclusion
  • The reasonableness of the conclusion depends on the accuracy of the premises.
  • Premise: Football teams with a two-game lead in their conference in early November usually go on to win their division.
  • Premise: As of November 8, the Ohio State Buckeyes have a two-game lead in the Big Ten.
  • Conclusion: The Buckeyes are probably on their way to winning the title.

*

Assessing Evidence

  • Inductive reasoning
  • Is it accurate?
  • Is it relevant?
  • Is it representative?
  • Is it sufficient?

*

Analysis: Thinking Critically

  • Concentrate on the type of reasoning the writer is using
  • Question the logical relation of a writer’s claims, grounds, and warrants

*

Source

  • Elaine P. Maimon and Janice H. Peritz, A Writer’s Resource
  • Chapter 2: Writing Papers pp. 21-32

*