TEXTS AND CONTEXTS CONNECTIONS

Critical Reading as Looking for Ways of Thinking

-Explicit and Implicit Claims in a text
- Context of Text Development

Critical Reading as Reasoning

-Formulating Evaluative Statements
-Determining Textual Evidence
 PURPOSEFUL WRITING
IN THE DISCIPLINES AND
FOR PROFESSIONAL
UNIQUE FEATURES OF AND REQUIREMENTS IN
COMPOSING TEXTS THAT ARE USEFUL ACROSS DISCIPLINE

a.Book review or Article Critique

b.Literature review
c.Research report
d.Project proposal
e.Position paper
UNIQUE FEATURES OF AND REQUIREMENTS IN
COMPOSING PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE

a. Resume
b. Application for college admission
c. Application for employment
d. Various forms of office correspondence
UNIQUE FEATURES OF AND REQUIREMENTS IN
COMPOSING TEXTS THAT ARE USEFUL ACROSS DISCIPLINE

Book Review or Article Critique

1. Introduce main character and relevant details
about his or her life

2. Tell about the main character’s problems and

emotions
3. Summarize plot description without giving away too
much information
4. Hint at plot resolution but never reveal it
5. Tell the genre
6. Tell if the book is part of a series
7. Use a strong lead that engages reader
8. Allude to theme or moral lessons learned from book
9. Asks the reader questions
10. Include lines from text
11. Use rich, accurate adjectives to describe the writing
12. Refer to the title and author by name within the review
13. Provide relevant information about the author
14. Make comparisons to other books by same author or
about same topic
15. Recommend what kind of reader would enjoy the book
16. Tell the range of feelings and response the reviewer had to
the book
17. Includes strong adjectives and other qualities of good writing
18. Conclude purposefully
 Literature Review
Introduce the literature review by pointing out
the major research topic that will be discussed
Identify the broad problem area but don’t be too
global (for example, discussing the history of
education when the topic is on specific
instructional strategy)
Discuss the general importance of your topic for
those in your field
Don’t attempt to cover everything written on
your topic
You will need to pick out the research most
relevant to the topic you are studying
You will use the studies in your literature
review as “evidence” that your research
question is an important one
It is important to cover research relevant to
all the variables being studied.
Research that explains the relationship
between these variables is a top priority.
You will need to plan how you will structure
your literature review and write from this
plan.
COMMON ERRORS MADE IN LIT REVIEWS

 Review isn’t logically organized

 Review isn’t focused on most important facets of the study
 Review doesn’t relate literature to the study
 Too few references or outdated references cited
 Review isn’t written in author’s own words
 Review reads like a series of disjointed summaries
 Review doesn’t argue a point
Research Report
Project Proposal
Position Paper
•A brief introduction to your country and its history concerning the topic
•How the issue affects your country;
•Your country’s policies with respect to the issue and your country’s
•justification for these policies;
•Quotes from your country’s leaders about the issue;
•Statistics to back up your country’s position on the issue;
•Actions taken by your government with regard to the issue;
•Conventions and resolutions that your country has signed or ratified;
•UN actions that your country supported or opposed;
•What your country believes should be done to address the issue;
•What your country would like to accomplish in the committee’s resolution; and
•How the positions of other countries affect your country’s position.
UNIQUE FEATURES OF AND REQUIREMENTS IN
COMPOSING PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE

Resume
Application for College Admission
Application for Employment
Various forms of office correspondence