2010 english150 week6 part2
TRANSCRIPT
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Week 6, Part 2
Today
1. Hand in informative essay2. Critical Analysis3. Group Exercise
Word-of-the-day
Anachronistic: Out of chronological order Examples:
The sword is anachronistic in today’s warfare.
The film’s anachronistic portrayal of 1950s London included reference to a washing machine not on the market until 1960.
Active/Passive
Verbs: voice is either active or passive. Active: subject of sentence=perfomer of
verb Passive: subject has something happen to it
Grammar-rama:Active vs Passive Voice Active: The Montgomery College Board
of Trustees reached a decision.
Passive: A decision was reached by the Montgomery College Board of Trustees.
Active: I hit the dog. Passive: The dog was hit.
Active/Passive
Use active as much as possible except: Performer is understood, unimportant,
unknown My car was stolen! The gardens at Camosun are maintained
frequently. Focus is on action, not on performer
A silo was erected in the middle of the field today.
Active/Passive
Use active as much as possible: More direct Honest Concise Clear
Try These
1. Self-reliance and tolerance of difference is developed during the teenage years.
2. Important knowledge about how to get along successfully in the world was learned by having to keep my own accounts and pay rent on the pedicab.
3. I was entertained with unfamiliar stories of incidents and individuals.
4. A more tolerant and respectful view of the world was acquired because of my peddling summer.
Critical Analysis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQm1C_iTIJM
Critical Analysis
Independent thinking
Research what is said and break that information apart to appraise the nature of those parts and their relationships
Persuasive: describing and supporting your thinking on a specific topic
Critical Analysis
Process of analyzing and evaluating
Product (essay or oral presentation)
Not critical in the usual sense!
Critical Analysis
Objective vs Subjective
Analysis AND evaluation
Analysis
Narrow topic Choose considerations
Political Legal Social Historical Ethical Aesthetic Economic
Analysis
Examine subject in its context, parts, stages, and processes Time period Manufacturing considerations Your own biases
Texts and Readings
What is a text? What is a reading?
Questions to Ask of your Text Summary and Definition
what is (are)...? who...? when...? how much...? how many...? what is an example of...?
Analysis Questions
how...? why...? what are the reasons for...? what are the types of...? what are the functions of...? what is the process of...? what other examples of...? what are the causes/ results of...?
Analysis Questions
what is the relationship between …? what is the similarity or difference between…? how does ...apply to ...? what is (are) the problems or conflicts or
issues...? what are possible solutions/ resolutions to these problems or conflicts or issues...?
what is the main argument or thesis of...? how is this argument developed...? what evidence or proof or support is offered...?
what are other theories/arguments from other authors...?
Evaluation Questions
is...good or bad...? .....correct or incorrect...? .....effective or ineffective...?
.....relevant or irrelevant...? .....clear or unclear...? .....logical or illogical...? .....applicable or not applicable...? .....proven or not proven...? .....ethical or unethical...? what are the advantages or disadvantages
of...?
Evaluation Questions
what are the pros or cons of...? what is the best solution to the problem /
conflict / issue...? what should or should not happen...? do I agree or disagree ...? what is my opinion...? what is my support for my opinion...?
Critical Analysis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47wp8RImhZw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4izX6KIhX0
Critical Analysis
Combination of: Observations Inferences
Observation Exercise
Draw the front (the “tails” side) of a penny
Observation Exercise
Inferences
“intellectual leap from what one sees to what those details might suggest” (Seeing and Writing).
Inferences must be: Reasonable Supportable by evidence/proof/details Not stereotyping
Group Exercise
Make two columns on your paper Observations Inferences
Mark Peterson Photograph (Seeing and Writing)
Ways to Critically Analyze
Tone Context Structure
Tone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqlJl1LfDP4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JOy1nM6UoA
Article Quiz Next Class
Read the two articles on the blog Make a list at home of
observations/inferences Draw comparisons/contrast between two Answer these questions on the quiz:
What is the tone of each article? What is a two-sentence summary of each
article? Write your critical response to both articles
in a paragraph.