Lesson 5:

Critical Reading
SKILLS
 INTRODUC
TION

Hi dear learners!
You have learned about patterns of development from the previous module. Now,
you will learn about critical reading skills.
Have you experienced the feeling of reading something but no matter how hard you
try, in the end, you still failed to get the meaning of everything that you have read?
If yes, then there is nothing to be sad about. You, as a student, learning how to read
critically will open more opportunities for gaining knowledge. It will also teach you
to understand better. Let us study further about critical reading in this lesson.

OBJECTIVE
S

By the end of the lesson, you will have been able to;
 identify claims explicitly and implicitly made in a written text
 formulate evaluative statements about a text read
 determine how central claims are developed and argued
 evaluate the validity of arguments of the text and
 examine the evidence that the text uses
 PRELIMINARY
ACTIVITY

Before we proceed to our lesson, let’s complete this semantic map first. What
comes in mind when you hear or see the words “Critical Reading”?

Critical Reading

Great job! Let us discuss the key points/ideas that you have
generated about critical reading and see if your answers are
related to its meaning.

DISCUSS
ION
Critical reading is a process of analyzing, interpreting and, sometimes,
evaluating. It involves presenting a reasoned argument that evaluates and analyses
what you have read. When you read critically, you use your critical thinking skills
to question both the text and your understanding of it. Being critical, therefore - in
an academic sense - means expanding your understanding not
dismissing, examine and exercise your judgement about what you
are reading – that is, not taking anything, you read at face value.
As you read different academic texts, you will be exposed to different authors who
has different point of views and strategies in writing. In academic circles, while
you are a student, you will be expected to understand different viewpoints and
make your own judgements based on what you have read. Below are strategies for
an effective critical reading;
 Identify what you’re reading for.
 Allow enough time to read, and take your time.
 Remember that re-reading is a part of effective, critical reading.
 Engage with the text to get the most out of it
 Ask yourself if you can explain both “what
the text says” and “what it does.”
 Attempt to understand how each writer’s
background and purposes influence what
they write.
 Attempt to understand how each writer’s
background and purposes influence what
they write.

These strategies mentioned above will help

you enhance your critical reading skill. In addition to that, below are general
questions that will guide you in reading critically;
 What is the writer’s perspective? Does he/she write from an outsider’s or
insider’s perspective?
 What important information is excluded from the text?
 Do you agree with the writer?
 Is the writer objective and accurate?
 How would you describe the tone of writer?
 Does the text challenge your own values and beliefs?
 Does the text contain fallacies? What are those?
 Are these assumptions made by the writer?
 Does the writer oversimplify complex ideas?
 Does the writer use reasonable generalizations and inferences?

As you answer these questions while reading a text, it will help you understand the
meaning of what you are reading deeper. There are several ways by which a text is
developed.
Hypertext is one of the recent developments in reading which has been brought
about by the advancement of technology. Most of us has access to gadgets, gadgets
aside for communication, also serve as source of information through the use of –
internet. What makes hypertext unique is the speed at which you can shift to
different texts. When the first text mentions the concept that is also discussed in
another text, all you have to do is to click the hyperlink and the other page will
load.
Intertext draws origin from literature and asserts that texts can only be understood
in relation to other texts. Also, present-day texts are believed to have been based
on or at least inspired by previously-published literature – from the style to the
content, to the context, etc.
Hypertext allows people to shift to different texts as fast as the internet loading
speeds allow while Intertextuality helps people understand better by referring to
multiple texts to compare meaning.

Claims
Upon reading, you will stumble with different articles, essays and sometimes texts
with the same topic yet the ideas and manner on how the authors presented were
different to one another. If you fail to grasp and understand the author’s claims,
you might come up with poor judgment.
According to Merriam Webster Dictionary; claim, means to say that (something) is
true when some people may
say it is not. In academic
context, claims are the
statements that summarize
the writer’s point of views.
Knowing how to identify
and evaluate the claims of
the author will make you
come up with better
judgments as you continue
reading their outputs.
As the details and
transitional devices guide you, focusing to the first and last sentences of the
paragraph will help you determine the claims. There are three general types of
claims.
Claim of Fact is an argument about a quantifiable topic. Note that a claim of fact is
not fact; it only asserts that something exists or will exist based on the data.
Example,
(a) Decreasing carbon dioxide emissions from car exhaust, manufacturing
processes, fertilizers, and landfills, while
slowing deforestation, may help slow the
process of global warming.

Claim of Value asserts something that can be

qualified and try to prove that some values are more
or less desirable compared to others. Judgment was
made based on the certain standards, on whether
something is right or wrong, good or bad. It
consists of arguments about moral, philosophical or
aesthetic topics.
Example,
(a) It’s better to apply good nutritional choices at home than teach them at
school, because good nutrition then becomes ingrained in the child’s
experience.
(b) Although immunotherapy has produced some good results in fighting cancer,
overall it is less effective than chemotherapy.

Claim of Policy
A claim of policy argues that certain conditions should or should not be done, in
order to solve a problem. The key word is the verb “should”, which implies that
some action ought to be taken, but not that it must or will be taken.
Examples,
(a) Just as smoking ads have been banned in order to
decrease the urge to engage in an unhealthy behavior,
soda ads should be banned for the same reason.
 (b) In order to ensure that graduates are competitive for top jobs in their fields,
the college must put additional resources into its career services office and
internship programs.

Aside from claims, you should also watch out for fallacies. Fallacies are common
errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your argument. Fallacies can be
either illegitimate arguments or irrelevant points, and are often identified because
they lack evidence that supports their claim. Avoid these common fallacies in your
own arguments and watch for them in the arguments of others
Fallacy Description Example
False dilemma, also known as black and “Either we go to war, or
white fallacy, results when a we appear weak.”
writer falsely constructs an
either-or situation.
Begging the question occurs when part of a claim Special education
—phrased in just slightly students should not be
different words—is used in required to take
support of that same claim. standardized tests
because such tests are
meant for nonspecial
education students.
Hasty generalization  is an error of induction that Two out of three patients
occurs when a writer jumps who were given green tea
to an inference based on before bedtime reported
limited or inadequate data.  sleeping more soundly.
Therefore, green tea may
be used to treat insomnia.
Non sequitur  means "does not follow," Professor Berger has
and the fallacy occurs when published numerous
no true logical (especially articles in immunology.
cause-effect) relationship Therefore, she is an
exists between two notions. expert in complementary
medicine.
Post hoc ergo propter This fallacy results from Drop-out rates increased
hoc assuming that because the year after SHS was
something chronologically passed. Therefore, SHS is
follows something else, then causing kids to drop out.
 the two things must be
related by a cause-effect
connection.
Slippery Slope Occurs when a series of
increasingly superficial and
unacceptable consequences
is drawn
Ad Hominem a fallacy of relevance where
(Poisoning the well) someone rejects or criticizes
another person’s view on the
basis of personal
characteristics, background,
physical appearance, or other
features irrelevant to the
argument at issue.
 “But you have to let me
go to the party! If I don’t
go to the party, I’ll be a
loser with no friends.
Next thing you know I’ll
end up alone and jobless
living in your basement
when I’m 30!”
Green Peace's strategies
aren't effective because
they are all dirty, lazy
hippies.

ACTIVI
TY
Read the paragraph below the do the succeeding tasks given.

K to 12 Program was introduced in the Philippines with the aim of providing

sufficient time to master concepts and skills, prepare graduates for higher
education, produce lifelong learners and prepare students for middle level skills
development, entrepreneurship, and employment. Hence, the program added 2
years of Senior High School; (SHS). The courses that can be learned from SHS
include accounting, welding, machinist, agriculture, music, medical technology,
and culinary and hospital work.
 Although the intention of adding SHS is commendable, some critics claim that
there is still mismatch between our schooling system and working system. As
regards the implementation of SHS, some people are concerned about the lack of
learning materials provided to the schools. For example, during the school year
2013-2014, learning materials for one school in Tondo arrived during the last two
quarters of the school year. The lack of sufficient facilities, such as classrooms,
chairs and computer laboratories, is also a problem. Moreover, more students
require more teachers, but there seems to be lack of teachers as wee. Colleges and
universities also assert that they will be losing revenues with the implementation of
SHS since there will be no enrollees for the first year in 2016.
Despite these observations, DepEd is optimistic that these shortages and problems
will be overcome as they claim that these are being addressed. Meanwhile, the
Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) lauds
DEpEd’s implementation of the K to 12 Program, according to its chairman,
additional two years of education should not be seen us burden.

A. Answer the following questions.

1. What do you think is the stand of the author? Is he/she in favor or against the
implementation of SHS? Justify your answer.
2. What is the central claim of the text?
3. Who do you think is the target reader of the text? Why?
4. What was currently happening when this text was written? What do you
think made the author write this text?
5. Do you think there is sufficient evidence presented in the text? Why?
6. Based on your experience, should SHS continue to be implemented?

B. Complete the table below by writing statements from the previous

paragraphs that fall under the appropriate claim.

Claim of Facts Claim of Value Claim of Policy

C. Study the sentences below. Identify what fallacy was used in the sentences
and justify your answers.
1. Mr. Lee's views on Japanese culture are wrong. This is because his
parents were killed by the Japanese army during World War II and that
made him anti-Japanese all his life. _____________________
2. Smoking causes cancer because my father was a smoker and he died of
lung cancer. _______________________
3. The last three times I have had a cold I took large doses of vitamin C. On
each occasion, the cold cleared up within a few days. So, vitamin C
helped me recover from colds. ____________________
4. I drank bottled water and now I am sick, so the water must have made me
sick. _____________________
5. If we ban Ferrari because they are bad for the environment eventually the
government will ban all cars, so we should not ban Ferrari. __________

Not because you cannot read critically right now

means that you will never learn. Reading can be
learned just like how frying sunny side up egg can
be taught. You can learn and develop it once you are
committed to do so. I hope that you have learned
something from this chapter and will be able to
apply it whenever there is a chance. 😊 You can do
it!