Reading and Writing Skills

(Second Semester)

CRITICAL READING AS REASONING

 Critical reading is engaging in analytic activity which involves the reader by asking questions about the
text and the author’s claim. Critical readers are doing the process of evaluating, analyzing, and
interpreting the assertion of the hidden meaning of the entire text.
 Remember that critical reading is not meant to criticize but to assess the validity of textual evidence.

STEPS USED IN CRITICAL READING AS REASONING

 Identifying Assertions
o ASSERTIONS – are declarative sentences that claim something is true about something else.
o Assertion of Fact – is objectively verified.
 Sampaguita’s roots are used for medicinal purposes, such as sedative and anesthetic.
o Assertion of Opinion – is based on facts but difficult to objectively verify.
 The popularity of sampaguita flowers is most evident in places of worship.
o Assertion of Convention – is a way in which something is done, similar to traditions and norms.
 The sampaguita belongs to the genus Jasminum of the family Oleaceae.
o Assertion of Preference – is based on personal choice.
 Sampaguitas are the most beautiful and most fragrant of all flowers.

 Formulating Counterclaim
o COUNTERCLAIMS – are claims made to rebut a previous claim; Contrasting perspective in the
main argument.

 Determining Textual Evidence

o EVIDENCE – the details given by the author to support his claim.
o Ways to present your evidence: Paraphrasing, Summarizing, Referencing, Quoting
o Paraphrasing or restating the text in your own words
o Summarizing or stating in a shorter way the text and other relevant details to support the idea
o Referencing or mentioning a specific section in the text
o Quoting or directly restating a part of the text.

PURPOSEFUL WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINES AND FOR PROFESSIONS

ACADEMIC WRITING
- Academic writing is a formal style of writing used in universities and scholarly publications.
- Book Review, Literature Review, Research Report, Project Proposal

PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE
- Any written interaction you have with a potential employer, whether electronic, printed, or hand-written.
- Resume, Application Letter, Memo
BOOK REVIEW
- A book review describes and evaluates a work of fiction or nonfiction and offers the book’s overall
purpose, structure, style of narration to the unknown readers.
- In writing a book review, you combine your skills of describing the content of the pages, analyzing how
the book achieved its purpose, and expressing your most personal comments, reactions and
suggestions.

BOOK REVIEW TEMPLATE

 Introduction
- Describe the book cover and title.
- Mention the book’s theme
- Include the background
 Body
- Provide your reactions to the book.
- Describe the book.
- Respond to the author’s opinions and analyze it.
 Conclusion
- Briefly restate your main points.
- Indicate how well the book has achieved its goal.
- This can include your final opinion of the book.

LITERATURE REVIEW
 A literature review summarizes and synthesizes the existing scholarly research on a particular topic.
 A form of academic writing commonly used in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
 Writing a literature review is a time-consuming process that requires extensive research and critical
analysis.

Why is literature review important?

 Justifying your own research
o If you’re writing a literature review as part of a larger research project, the literature review
allows you to demonstrate what makes your own research valuable.
 Demonstrating your expertise
o Before you can write a literature review, you must immerse yourself in a significant body of
research. By the time you’ve written the review, you’ve read widely on your topic and are able to
synthesize and logically present the information. This final product establishes you as a
trustworthy authority on your topic.
 Joining the conversation
o All academic writing is part of one never-ending conversation: an on-going dialogue among
scholars and researchers across continents, centuries, and subject areas. By producing a
literature review, you’re engaging with all of the prior scholars who examined your topic and
continuing a cycle that moves the field forward.
Reading and Writing Skills
(Second Semester)