BEL 462READING and CRITICAL THINKING

Course Description

This course is designed to develop students’ ability to read analytically and think critically. It focuses on the relationship between reading and critical thinking and provides students with a structured method for interpreting content and organization of written texts. Tasks and activities suggested are discipline-based.

Course Outcomes

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

◦apply vocabulary skills to determine the meaning of words

◦identify and classify the ideas presented in the texts read

◦analyse and evaluate the texts read

Syllabus ContentDetermining the meaning of wordsIdentifying main ideas in textsRecognising the various types of

supporting detailsIdentifying logical reasoningMaking inferences and drawing

conclusionsAnalysing and evaluating the texts

read

Assessment

On-Going Assessment

90%

Test 1 30%Graded Assignment 20%Test 2 40%Attendance and Assignments

10%

Test 1 Test 2

Questions that test ability to: ◦determine the

meaning of words◦identify main ideas

in texts◦recognise the

supporting details◦distinguish between

fact and opinionArgumentative

Questions that test ability to apply all the reading and critical thinking skills taught

Argumentative

Graded AssignmentQuestions that test ability to:

◦identify the various types of supporting details

◦identify logical reasoning: deductive and inductive reasoning

◦make inferences and draw conclusions

◦evaluate validity and credibilityArgumentative

Dictation! ðiz ɑr ðə rulz fɔr maj klæs: 1) bi punctual2) ɒlwez fɑlo ðə drɛs kod3) ɒlwez spik ɪn ɪŋglɪʃ4) dɪkʃənɛri ɪz compulsary5) dont smok bəfɔr, dʊrɪŋ ænd æftər klæs6) ətɛndəns ɪz maj prajɔrəti7) æktɪv partɪsəpeʃən ɪn klæs

AnswerThese are the rules for my class:

1) Be punctual2) Always follow the dress code3) Always speak in English4) Dictionary is COMPULSARY5) Don't smoke before, during and after class6) Attendance is my priority7) Active participation in class

What is reading and critical thinking?

Definition Readinginteracting with and absorbing

the text. interacting with and absorbing the text.◦primary goal is to understand the first level on which the text operates – what the author actually says.

◦first reading –trying to get the gist of what the author is saying and sense of his or her tone.

◦rereadings – after the first reading, plan on at least one other. this time read slowly. your main concern should be to grasp the content and how it is constructed.

Reading process

Cont.. Reading Process

Can you read this?

Then which of the favours o f your Lord will ye deny?

Definition CriticalCritical means “sceptical,” “exacting,”

“creative.” When we operate critically, we question, test and build on what others say and what we ourselves think. ◦Critical does not mean “negative” in this

context. In Greek it means “to separate” and

“to discern”: Thus a critical thinker, reader, or writer

separates a subject into parts, discerns how the parts work together and how the subject relates to other subjects, and (often) judges the subject’s quality and value.

Reading + Critical Thinking?

1

•Identify the main issue

2

•Evaluate the evidence

3

•Recognise underlying assumptions

4

•Evaluate authorities

5

•Recognize bias and propaganda

6

•Interpretation and action

Commentary articleTo read critically, you need to read actively.Writing back gives lots of ammunition. In addition, after your initial reading it is useful to

do some invention workCommentary on the article includes the analysis

of the author's reasoning:◦ Assumptions ◦ Logical and emotional arguments◦ Conclusions◦ Did he miss any good arguments or counterarguments? ◦ Did he cover the range of the issue he set out to

address? ◦ Are his basic social assumptions valid, or has he

overgeneralized some of his statements?

Example of commentary articleBreeding evil. (2005, August 6). Economist, 376(8438), 9. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com

This editorial from the Economist describes the controversy surrounding video games and the effect they have on people who use them. The article points out that most critics of gaming are people over 40 and it is an issue of age not of the games themselves. While the author briefly mentions studies done around the issue of violence and gaming, he does not go into enough depth for the reader to truly know the range of studies that have actually been done in this area, other than to take his word that the research is unsatisfactory. The author of this article stresses the age factor over violence as the real reason for opposition to video games and stresses the good gaming has done in most areas of human life. This article is a good resource for those wanting to begin to explore the controversy surrounding video games, however for anyone doing serious research, one should actually examine some of the research studies that have been done in this area rather than simply take the author's word that opposition to video games is simply due to an issue of generational divide.

TaskRead the article on “Shyness”

and share your thoughts regarding what you’ve read.

Write your comments on the article in i-Learn.