Critical Thinking Skills: Reading and Communication
Competency 0001
Identify a writer’s point of view and intended meaning
Main Idea
 What is the most important point the author is
making about the paragraph or passage.
 Not always directly stated, but inferred
Questions on test that are asking
for main idea
 The best title for this selection is
 The passage discusses
 The passage focuses mainly on
 The topic of this passage is
 This passage concerns
 The problem the author is discussing in this passage is
 The author is explaining the nature of
Recognizing ideas that support,
illustrate, or elaborate the main
idea
 What additional information the author has used to
support the main idea
 Additional information that helps you understand the
main idea
Supporting Details may consist of:
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Examples
Descriptions
Characteristics
Steps
Places
Names
Dates
Stats
Reasons
Results
Test questions about supporting
details may be phrased as:
 According to the passage
 According to the information in the passage
 The author states that
 The author states
Writer’s opinions
 When asked what is author’s point of view, you are
being asked what is his position on an issue. Is he for
it or against it.
 When asked what is author’s purpose for writing the
passage, you are being asked if the passage informs or
explains, instructs or teaches, persuade or convinces,
or if it entertains or amuses the reader.
Point of View & Position
 These are one in the same
Competency 0002
 Analyze the Relationship Among Ideas in Written
Material
Writing Patterns
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List
Division/classification
Sequence
Process
Definition
Definition with example
Comparison/contrast
Cause/effect
Spatial order
Deductive Reasoning
 Take a generalization and see how it applies to a
specific situation.
 Look at the big picture and draw a conclusion
Inductive Reasoning
 Drawing a conclusion that is based on specific details
or facts.
 Going from the smaller to the bigger picture
Competency 0003
 Use critical reasoning skills to evaluate written
material
Facts
 Something you can prove
Opinion
 Something that cannot be proved or disproved: a
judgment or a belief
 Signal words: perhaps, greatest, better, safer,
apparently, one possibility
Validity
 Examine the author’s logic
 What does the author take for granted?
 What type of support does the author present? (facts,
opinions, research)
 Does the support pertain directly to the argument?
 Is the argument objective and complete?
Competency 0004
 Recognize the roles of purpose and audience in written
communication
Purpose for writing
 Persuade
 Describe
 Teach
 Entertain
Tone
 Authors choice of words and style
 Sarcasm – contempt or ridicule
Some words that describe tone: serious, emotional,
critical, supportive, grim, humble, etc
Intended Audience
 Who should read this?
 Who did the author write this for?
Competency 0005
 Recognize the unity, focus, and development in
writing
Writing Examples
Does the point of view change? (shift from 1st to 3rd
person)
2. Does the writing improve with revision?
1.
Subarea II
 Communications
Competency 0006
 Recognize effective organization in writing
Paragraph Organization
 Topic Sentence
 Supporting details
 Cohesive and effective sequence of ideas
 Transitional words and phrases
Competency 0007
 Recognize sentences that effectively communicate
intended meaning
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Ineffective repetition and inefficiency in sentence
construction
Modifier placement,
parallel structure,
Use of negatives in sentence formation
Inappropriate word choices
Competency 0008
 Recognize standard conventions of formal written
English usage in the United States.
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Verb forms
Pronouns
Adverbs
Adjectives
Comparatives
Superlatives
Plural
Possessive
Standard punctuation
Identify fragments and run-on sentences
Subject-verb agreement