CRWT111 Differentiating facts from interpretations

PERSPECTI ACTIO BELIEF

I. INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL VE N
READING NON- A text is a Texts are Believe the
CRITICA source of facts. memoriz book that
Critical Reading L
READERS ed to describes
- means a reader applies certain processes, absorbed events the
models, questions, and the theories that “facts” clearest.
result in enhanced clarity and CRITICA A text only Recogniz Gather
comprehension. L provides the e not information,
READER author’s own only stitch
How do you critically examine a text? S interpretation what the different
 CHECK. For intentional and unintentional of facts. text says, interpretatio
omissions, grounds for arguments, and but also ns together,
inconsistencies. how the and validate
 REMEMBER. Different writers have their own text the ones
points of view and biases. discusses supported
 APPLY. Your discretion to what you are the topic. by logical
reading. or scientific
explanation
Reading critically means reflecting on: s.
1. CONTENT of the text – the reader should be
able to interpret and explain the main points of
the text on his or her own words. II. NATURE OF THE TEXT
2. DESCRIPTIONS in the text – the reader should
create his or her own examples based on the key Academic and Non-Academic Texts
points and compare them with other texts of the ACADEMIC NON-ACADEMIC
same topic.  Written by  Written for the
3. INTERPRETATION of the text – the reader experts mass public
should be able to objectively analyze the text in  Not self-  Published
parts and in whole published quickly by
 Peer-review anyone
How Reading develops  Author  Creativity vs.
1. UNDERSTANDING OF LETTERS, WORDS, credentials & credibility
AND SYMBOLS reputation are  Authorship is
2. COMPREHENDING THE MEANING necessary not limited to
BEHIND THE WORDS credentials, but
 Formal language
3. ADDING NEW WORDS TO VOCABULARY also fame
 Scientifically &
4. CHALLENGING WHAT TEXTBOOK CALLS
systematically  Informal or
“FACTS”
researched formal language
5. INTEGRATING READING AND LEARNING
 Primary source  Sometimes non-
scientific &
non-systematic
 Reference list is
optional
 Secondary
source
 Steps in Critical Reading
1. Prioritize Reading
2. Find informative books of good value
3. Have your reading habit planned
4. Do not limit your reading habit
5. Be a morning reader
6. Try speed reading
Critical Reading Process
1. Analyse the critical reading process
2. Practice pre-reading activities
3. List down questions
4. Take down notes
5. Evaluate the text
6. Mind map from memory
7. Consolidate your knowledge
Effective Steps for Note-taking
1. Highlighting and emphasizing
2. Making written notes
3. Reviewing and revising notes
4. Organizing your notes
III. READING STRATEGIES FOR
CRITICAL THINKING
Critical thinking requires critical reading to develop
because a huge part of you is influenced by what you
read and hear. Up to 80% of knowledge is learned
through the eyes, and reading plays the biggest role.
1. Improve your vocabulary .
 Read a wide range of texts to give yourself a
varied vocabulary background.
 Have a dictionary at all times.
 Never assume the meaning of a word that you
are unfamiliar with. If you hesitate, then look it
up.
 Keep a vocabulary journal where you write
down all words that you learn on a daily or
weekly basis.
 Learn at least three words a day and try using
them in a sentence. Small actions can take you a
long way.
 Find opportunities to apply the learned words in
actual conversations.
2. Mind your reading comprehension skills
 Try to recall and explain the key points on your
own words after each section.
 Avoid reading at a slower pace just to
compensate for your comprehension level.
 Use a line guide to keep focused on the text and
avoid having your eyes wander around. It can be
a ruler, an index card or your finger.
3. Improve Your Reading Speed
 Keep in mind that the reading pace depends on
the type of material you are reading and your
goal.
 Proactively focus on 2-4 words at a time instead
of fixating on a per word reading basis.
 Read with your eyes and mind.
 Practice makes perfect.
 Force yourself to read at a faster rate for short
periods of time.
 Go at a speed that is uncomfortable but you are
still comprehending the material.
 Avoid rereading as much as possible.
 You should never read at a rate that is slower
than your average rate.
4. Apply The SQ3R Method—Survey, Question,
Read, Recite and Review
- Survey
Scan over the table of contents of a new book to
have a clear understanding of its content and plan your
reading in advance
- Question:
Create questions from information printed in the
margins. You may also highlight keywords or key
phrases for future references.
- Read
Start reading only when you can concentrate and
commit to it. It is advised to read while sitting rather
than lying down as the latter makes you very relaxed,
sometimes sleepy or languid.
You must locate the main idea of each
paragraph. Watching out for keywords, such as proper
nouns, numbers, italicized foreign terms, jargons, etc.,
might help you with this.
 Identify the topic.
 Find the main idea.
 Look for the supporting details
 Underline the main idea
- Recite
Take time to paraphrase what you read out loud
while reading. It helps you avoid plagiarism and helps
you remember the main idea at the same time.
- Review.
Review starts with organization. Make sure that all
notes and handouts are inserted in date order.
Review your notes and questions created for the
daily lesson or chapter.
 Review the highlighted areas of your text.
 Review the comments you made in the text
as you read.
  Recite the main points of each section of the 7. Make Inferences
chapter. Making inferences is a comprehension strategy used
 Review your index card file. by proficient readers to “read between the lines,” make
connections, and draw conclusions about the text’s
5. Do Skimming meaning and purpose.
What is skimming?  Inference means concluding based on
 Speedy reading for general meaning knowledge and experience.
 Let’s your eyes skip over sentences or  Ability to understand implicit messages
phrases that contain details conveyed by a writer based on the reader’s
 Allows you to concentrate on schema or background knowledge
identifying the central or main points
 Pre-views a selection of text prior to
detailed reading
 Refreshes understanding of a text
following detailed reading
 Speed reading at basic level
 Works best with non-fiction or factual
texts
 Speed ranges from 700-1000 words per
minute.

6. Do Scanning
What is scanning?
 Passing the vision speedily over a
selection of text to find specific words
or phrases
 Skipping over large portions of texts to
find what you are looking form
 Speed ranges above 1000 words per
minute
 Covers more area than skimming within
the same amount of time
 Does not require reading of entire texts
 May be limited to specific information
and may not help the reader understand
the general idea

Skimming vs. Scanning

Skimming
- Meant to identify main points without
identifying the details
- Covers 700-1000 wpm
Scanning
- Meant to identify specific details without
understanding the main points
- Covers more than 1000 wpm.

When is the right time to scan?

- You scan when your aim is to find specific
pieces of information. If you were doing the
research for a report, you could scan the
index of books, web sites, and reference
materials.