Formulating Evaluative

Statements about a Text Read

 different reading purposes
•to be informed and be entertained
•to develop a detailed and critical
understanding of a text
Critical reading means
engaging in what you read by
asking yourself questions such
as, ‘what is the author trying to
say?’ or ‘what is the main
argument being presented?’.
To read critically is to make
judgments about how a text is
argued.
You might have to read a text
through once to get a basic grasp of
content before you launch into an
intensive critical reading.
 Why is critical reading an essential
skill?
•critical reading is essential in order to
come up with an in-depth analysis or
evaluation of the given material (article,
book, film, etc.) through reflection,
analysis of the text, making arguments on
certain claims, and reviewing a material
(book, article, film, etc.)
Formulating Evaluative Statements,
making assertions about the
properties of a text and creating
counterclaims in response to claims
made are critical writing skills that
also require critical reading.
To understand further, let us take note of
the following important points:
•Assertion is a statement used to make a
declaration or to express strong belief on a
particular topic, often without evidence.

Example: “I have put my every effort to

complete this task today.”
(b) Claim is a statement that reflects the
writer’s position or point about a topic.
It is usually supported by reasons.

Example: “Hybrid cars are effective

strategy to fight pollution.”
(c) Counterclaim is a statement that argues
against the claim given.

Counterclaim:
“Instead of focusing on cars, which still
encourages a culture of driving even if it cuts
down on pollution, the nation should focus on
building and improving transportation systems.”
 Exercise 1. Critical Reading Practice

Each of the following questions is based on a

short passage. Read the passage and write the
letter of the best answer on your answer sheet.
 "You should spend your vacation in Boracay. We went there
for hours and the weather was beautiful — I had a gorgeous tan!"

1. The speaker assumes that the listener wants to

____.
A. come back from a vacation with a gorgeous tan
B. spend a vacation where the weather is beautiful
C. spend time in the sun
D. have a better tan
E. have an expensive vacation
 "You should spend your vacation in Boracay. We went there for
hours and the weather was beautiful — I had a gorgeous tan!"

2. Which of the following items does the speaker fail to take

into account?
A. Vacations should be spent in Boracay.
B. Boracay has beautiful weather.
C. Boracay’s weather is excellent for tanning.
D. Vacationing in Boracay leads to gorgeous tans.
E. Families may not be very interested in getting tanned while
vacationing in Boracay.
"Knitting is a waste of time. I took a knitting course at the
community center and the instructor was a narrow-minded,
picky old maid."
3. What assumption is made by the speaker?
A. A craft can be judged based on the personality of the
instructor.
B. The teacher could have tried harder to be flexible.
C. All craft courses are a waste of time.

D. Quilting is an interesting craft which the instructor taught

badly.
E. Knitting is an interesting craft which the instructor taught
badly.
In our small town, Papa's soda shop was the most popular
place for high school students to meet. Unlike his brother,
the sullen and military-minded principal, Papa was always
relaxed, kind, interested, and always ready to add extra
whipped cream and cherries to our sodas. He was tolerant of
the noisy, boisterous students who came to his shop after
school. Everyone I knew in town, except our principal, loved
Papa.
4. The passage implies reasons for ________________.
A. Papa's generosity
B. ordering whipped cream and cherries on sodas
C. the existence of a meeting place for students
D. the high volume of noise
E. the popularity of the soda shop
In our small town, Papa's soda shop was the most popular
place for high school students to meet. Unlike his brother,
the sullen and military-minded principal, Papa was always
relaxed, kind, interested, and always ready to add extra
whipped cream and cherries to our sodas. He was tolerant of
the noisy, boisterous students who came to his shop after
school. Everyone I knew in town, except our principal, loved
Papa.
5. In the passage, the writer ________________________.
A. contrasts the personality of the two men
B. suggests that Papa was hypocritical
C. explains why two brothers were different
D. implies why people like sodas
E. compares Papa's place to others in the town
5. In the passage, the writer
________________________.
A. contrasts the personality of the two men
B. suggests that Papa was hypocritical
C. explains why two brothers were different

D. implies why people like sodas

E. compares Papa's place to others in the
town