Numbered List of Course Outline Log Entries

1 Three step method for Critical 2 Persuasion and Argumentation

. Thinking 2
.
1) To engage in critical thinking
requires a careful
observation and
interpretation of the ideas,
statements, arguments, and
content being examined. A
critical thinker must be a
careful observer. In terms of
reading, this statement
means that, when you think
critically about a reading
passage, you must first
observe carefully; that is, see
what the writer is saying
and how it is said.
Observation, or
comprehension, is essential
and always occurs before
evaluation. 
2) engage your reason in
understanding what you have
read, you “analyse” or break
down and examine the
component parts of what you
have read. This involves
identifying main ideas,
supporting details, patterns
of organization, and so on
3) To evaluate something just
means to judge or assess its
value. When you are engaged
in critical thinking, you use
your reasoning to evaluate or
judge the ideas and
arguments that you have
come to understand from the
passage.
2 Directional Words 2 Summaries
. 3
Analyze- Identify the essential .
elements of an
issue/process/text/argument/event and
show how they are related.
Compare- Identify characteristics or
qualities that resemble each other.
 Emphasise similarities and also mention
differences where appropriate.

Contrast- Stress the dissimilarities and

differences between concepts, ideas,
qualities, events, problems, or other
writers’ findings.

Define- Provide concise, clear, and

authoritative meanings. Give the limits
of the definition, but omit detailed
explanations.
Describe- Recount, characterise,
outline, and relate in sequence.

Discuss- Examine, analyse carefully,

and give reasons for and against
Draw- concrete example or figure to
explain or clarify a problem

Evaluate- Carefully appraise in relation

to some standard, referring to
advantages, limitations, and costs and
benefits as appropriate; attempt to
form a judgement.

Explain- Clarify, interpret, and

elaborate on the material presented
Indentify-stablish or indicate who or
what (someone or something) is.
Interpret-explain the meaning of
(information, words, or actions).
List-a number of connected items or
names written or printed
Summarize- Give the main points or
facts in condensed form.

3 A Three–point Focus 2 Academic Integrity and Essay

. 4 Documentation
1. What is the author’s purpose? .
2. What is the topic or subject
matter?
3. What is the main or
controlling idea of the
 passage?

4 Author’s Purpose 2 Essay Documentation MLA

. He or she may have wanted to 5
explain an event, describe a place, or .
persuade you to a point of view. The
author may have wanted to make
you laugh or cry, make you angry, or
provoke you to a certain action.
Identifying and understanding the
author’s purpose will help you as a
reader to receive and evaluate his or
her message.
5 Guidelines for Formulating Main 2 Editing Checklist
. Idea 6
.
1. Begin by reading the passage
to pinpoint the subject matter
or topic, as well as the author’s
purpose. Use any clues that
might be provided, such as
headings, titles, the passage’s
context (textbook, newspaper,
etc.).
2. Form a hypothesis about the
main idea. Jot it down.
3. Reread the passage actively.
Be alert, and read with pencil
in hand, making notes as you
go. The active reading
methods you will learn in the
next unit will help with this
process. Remember that the
beginning and ending of
passages are good places to
look for direct statements of
the main idea.
4. As you read, delete trivial and
redundant sections of
sentences, points that merely
seem to be asides or editorial
comments.
5. Note lists of items, actions, or
events, and group these under
a superordinate category or
term. For example, an essay
you will read in the next unit,
“The Music of My Mind,”
includes a list of ways
 musicians create rewarding
and pleasurable musical
effects that are further
characterized as ways our
brains perceive music.
6. Finally, use this accumulated
information to check your
original hypothesis and
modify it. Always express the
main idea as clearly and
succinctly as possible. Try to
keep it to one sentence.
Double-check your statement
against the reading to see
whether it is too narrow or too
broad in scope.

6 The Reading Inventory Method 2 Argument

. 7
Synopsis- what is the general subject
of th essay
Title- What can I infer from the title
of the essay
Biography- What do I know about
the author’s age, political stance and
general beliefs
Content- where was the essay first
published
Rereading- how does the author
achieve his or her purpose in the
essay ?
7 SQ4R Method 2 Facts and Opinions
. 8
.
8 Sentence Core Parts 2 Assumptions/Hidden Assumptions
9 and Inference
.
3 Evaluating Premises
0
.
9 Coordination 3 Relevance
1
.
1 Subordination 3 Deductive Arguments
0 2
. .
1 Deciphering Complicated Sentences 3 Inductive Arguments
1 3
. .
1 Transitions 3 Evaluating the relationship Between
2 4 Premises and Conclusions:
. . Necessity, sufficiency and relevance
1 Implicit Connectives 3 Evaluating Language
3 5
. .
1 Punctuation 3 Source: Bias/Prejudice
4 6
. .
1 Context Clues 3 Fallacies
5 7
. .
1 Generating Ideas 3 Essay Structure
6 8
.
1 Writing Functions
7
.
1 Mapping and Outlining
8
.
1 Description
9
.
2 Narration
0
.
2 Exposition
1
.
S Process Analysis
u Examples and Details
b Division/Classification
t Definition
o Comparison/Contrast
p Methods of Organization for
i Comparison/Contrast
c Cause and Effect    
s

E
n
t
r
y

2
1