Introduction to Critical Reading
-Non-critical (or pre-critical) reading is concerned with recognizing what a text says about the
topic.
Goal is to make sense of the presentation as a sequence of thoughts, to understand the
information, ideas, and opinions stated within the text from sentence to sentence, paragraph
to paragraph.
-Critical reading is an analytic activity.
These elements are tied together in an interpretation, an assertion of an underlying meaning of
the text as a whole.
-Critical thinking involves bringing outside knowledge and values to bear to evaluate the
presentation and decide what to ultimately accept as true.
Introduction to FSW tutoring
-one on one help with a tutor on any subject
-writing center does not just “proofread” you need to show effort if you want editing services
-Will give you basic concepts and conventions but you have to take the initiative to fix paper
-important to become a critical writer
-Writing center- walk in basis, do not necessarily need an appointment
-workshops (MLA, APA, Thesis statement)
-computers
-book club
-Tutor.com writing tutoring online
Everyone an Author
-Think about your genre as an author
-have you been assigned a specific genre
-consider your purpose
-is there specific organization that is needed for your paper (chronological)
-Important to consider your audience
-who is the intended audience
-will they be interested in what you are writing
-choice of medium?
-what will your audience expect
-Think about your stance and context
-what is your relationship with your audience
-do you have any constraints
-how much time and energy can you put into it
Writing as Inquiry
-Start with questions
-goal is to learn about the subject and then learn more
-How can it be defined
-look up throughout the internet what the topic is defined as
-the more information you know, the more you are able to discuss and debate about
-How can it be described
-What details should be included
-How can you describe in multiple points of view
-How can it be explained
-What does it do
-How does it work
-What can it be compared with
-similar situations or topics can be used to compare and describe your topic
-What may have caused it, what could be the effects?
-How does your topic relate to the world in regard to the causes and effects
-Keeping a journal
-writing tool used to record observations, reactions, and whatever else you wish
-Keeping a blog
-Online form of issues
-Blogs have common sections that allow others to read and respond to what you have
written
Managing the writing process
Steps for the writing process:
-Understand your assignment
-look for words like argue, evaluate, and analyze
-Come up with a topic
-Consider your rhetorical situation
-no matter what you will have an audience
-Audience
-Purpose
-Genre
-Stance
-Context
-Medium and design
-Looping
-is an extended and more focused kind of free writing. Start by establishing a subject
and then free write for 5-10 minutes. Look at what has been written and identify the most
important and interesting ideas
-Outlining
-First main idea
-2 supporting evidence or detail
-2nd main idea
-2supporting evidence or detail
-Come up with a tentative thesis
1. What point do you want to make about your topic?
2. Try plotting out a tentative thesis in two parts
3. Ask some questions about what you’ve written
4. Do you need to narrow or qualify your thesis
5. Is the thesis clear and focus
-Write out a draft
-Introduction is the most difficult part to write
-Try to grab readers attention
-Startling claim
-The body
-Develop argument point by point, paragraph by paragraph
-The conclusion
-should sum up your argument in a way that readers will remember
Guiding Your Reader
-Titles
-Titles serve various purposes such as naming texts and providing clues to the content
-It helps readers decide whether they want to read further, so important for titles to
attract interests
-Rhetorical situations
-Thesis statements
-A thesis identifies the topic of your text along with the claim you are making about it.
-A good thesis helps readers understand an essay
-1. State your topic as a question
-2. Then turn your question into a position
-3. Narrow your thesis
-4. Qualify your thesis
-Transitions
-help readers move from thought to thought and sentence to sentence and paragraph
to paragraph
-points to check in regard to transitions
-to signal causes and effects
-to signal comparisons
-to signal changes in direction or exceptions
-to signal examples
-to signal sequences or similarities
-to signal time relations
-to signal a summary or conclusion
How To Write Good Sentences
Four common sentence patterns
-simple sentences
-compound sentences
-complex sentences
-compound-complex sentences
-Simple sentences
-can be short as a single word or longer
-One and only one main clause
-Compound sentences
-two main clauses, each of which express one of two independent and equally
important ideas
-Complex sentences
-two or more ideas with one that you want to emphasize more than the others
-subordinate conjunctions and clauses
-Compound-complex sentences
-when you are expressing three or more ideas in a single sentence.
-have at least two main clauses and one subordinate clause
-Cumulative Sentences
-The writer starts off with a main clause and then adds details in phrases and
subordinate clauses
-Periodic sentences
-Delaying the main point until the end
-Closing sentences
-sentences that conclude a piece of writing are where you have a chance to make a
lasting impact
Developing Paragraphs
-Focusing on the main point
-Topic sentence- helps you focus a paragraph to one idea
-Strategies for developing the main point
-Analyzing cause and effect
-Classifying and dividing
-When we classify something, we ground it with things that share similar characteristics
-Describing
-A descriptive paragraph provides specific details to show what something looks likehow it sounds, feels, smells and tastes
-When to start a new paragraph
-to introduce a new subject or idea
-to signal a new speaker
-to emphasize an idea
-to give readers a needed pause
Paragraph Cohesion and Relevance
-Every paragraph should have a purpose that contributes to the composition as whole.
- Relevant information to your specific topic can include sources, background knowledge,
rhetorical analysis, and interpretation.
-Strategies for strong, unified paragraphs
-Each paragraph should fit the rhetorical situation and further the goals of the
communication situation.
-Paragraphs should have a clear, organized internal structure.
Writing Process
Pre-writing — generate your paper idea
A. UNDERSTAND the assignment by reading it carefully (including grading rubric).
B. CHOOSE a topic, keeping the assignment instructions and writing purposes in mind:
C.CONSULT with a librarian for the next three steps:
1.DECIDE upon an initial research question.
)2.DO background research (Librarian may be of help.)
3.FORMULATAE a thesis
Research and organize your paper
A. SCHEDULE: Create a timetable for the assignment, and check it against the
instructions.
B. RESEARCH: Do the formal research
C.TAKE notes as you do that research.
D. CONSULT with writing center (organize and outline)
Write and edit your paper