critiquing texts evaluating expository texts unity coherence logic internal consistency structural...

Critiquing Texts

Evaluating Expository Texts

Unity

Coherence

Logic

Internal Consistency

Structural Patterns

Your Turn

What Is Expository Critique?

Feature Menu

Critiquing Texts

How do you evaluate informational materials?

When you read to learn about a subject, it’s important to consider how the information is presented.

Critiquing Texts

A critic’s job is to critique, or critically evaluate, analyze, and judge.

• To rate chefs, food critics visit restaurants and taste dishes.

• To determine the best buys, consumer critics test-drive cars.

• To help listeners decide what to purchase, music critics evaluate new releases.

Critiquing Texts

Critics use a set of criteria, or standards, for making their judgments:

Item Critiqued Possible Criteria

dessert taste, appearance, and calories

car safety, price, and style

music lyrics, beat, and performance

[End of Section]

A critic’s job is to critique, or critically evaluate, analyze, and judge.

• Well-written expository texts clarify a complex issue or process.


Expository texts are texts that explain.

• Expository texts present information about complicated material to readers.


When you analyze and evaluate expository texts, consider the following criteria:

Criteria for Expository Critique

Unity All the elements of the text are arranged to contribute to the whole.

Coherence All the elements of the text hold together in an orderly fashion.

Logic All the elements of the text are sensible and correct.

Internal Consistency

All the elements of the text are connected and in agreement with one another.

Structural Pattern

The format of the expository text—the way it presents information.

Unity means “oneness or wholeness.”

When a text has unity, all of its details support the main idea or proposal.

Detail

Detail Detail

Detail

Main Idea

Evaluating Expository Texts: Unity

[End of Section]

Coherence means “sticking together,” like the atoms in a molecule.

In a coherent piece of writing, all of the elements hold together and can be clearly understood.

Joe hit the ball. They argued.The umpire called him out.

Evaluating Expository Texts: Coherence

in addition

also

similarly

furthermore

Transitional words and phrases help readers connect sentences and ideas.

Here are some examples of transitional words and phrases:

to continue a line of thought

to contrast with a previous thought

but

however

yet

on the other hand

to show time order

first

next

then

finally


Notice how a transitional phrase makes the passage below coherent.

Lacking Coherence Coherent

The National Park Service administers parks, monuments, historical sites, and recreational spots in all parts of the United States. [Transition needed.] The service must provide for the comfort and safety of the millions of visitors who come to the parks each year.

The National Park Service administers parks, monuments, historical sites, and recreational spots in all parts of the United States. In addition, the service must provide for the comfort and safety of the millions of visitors who come to the parks each year.


[End of Section]

Logic is correct reasoning. Logical texts present statements supported by reasons, evidence, and examples.

I think Grandma and Grandpa had a good time at my

graduation party. They both were talking and laughing the whole time. They even stayed

later than they usually do.

Evaluating Expository Texts: Logic

The logical text below contains an example that specifically supports a statement.

Illogical Logical

As the season advances, other mysterious comings and goings take place. Where the whales came from or by what route no one knows.

As the season advances, other mysterious comings and goings take place. Whales suddenly appear off the coastal banks where the shrimplike krill are spawning. Where the whales came from or by what route no one knows.

Evaluating Expository Texts: Logic

[End of Section]

If a text is logical and coherent, it has internal consistency.

Evaluating Expository Texts: Internal Consistency

Consistency is essential because unimportant or disconnected details distract readers and disrupt the logic of the text.

Inconsistent Consistent

A company is offering to broadcast messages into space. For a fee, the company will send your message to any of the planets in your solar system. Wow, what would you say? For an additional fee, the company will assist you in writing a message.

A company is offering to broadcast messages into space. For a fee, the company will send your message to any of the planets in your solar system. For an additional fee, the company will assist you in writing a message.

Evaluating Expository Texts: Internal Consistency

[End of Section]

Evaluating Expository Texts: Structural Patterns

The structure of something is the way that thing is put together.

For example, the blueprint of a house illustrates its structure for builders.

All texts have a structure as well.

Most expository texts are organized according to one or more of these structural patterns:

chronological order

order of importance

comparison and contrast

classification

proposition and support


Chronological order is time order—steps or events presented in the order they occur.

The sunflower began as a bud. Then, petals developed. Finally, the beautiful flower opened in full bloom.

Which words let you know the passage below is in chronological order?

The sunflower began as a bud. Then, petals developed. Finally, the beautiful flower opened in full bloom.


Order of importance is the ranking of facts by their significance to the writer’s main idea.

• More important information precedes less important information.


Comparison and contrast is the arrangement of information by similarities and differences.


comparison:

Both Jenny and Lisa are fourteen and in the eighth grade.

contrast:

Jenny is active in sports, but Lisa prefers to focus on her music.

Classification sorts information into groups. All the items in a group are related.

When you recycle, you sort trash into related groups: glass, plastic, paper, and so on.

Similarly, if you were to write an essay about recycling, you might classify, or group, the various methods of recycling.


Read the following passage. How does its organization represent classification?

When you visit an animal shelter, you’ll find many different types of pets. Our local shelter has more cats than any other kind of animal. You can choose from dozens of kittens and fully grown cats.

The next largest group is dogs. Some are pups that were born in the shelter; others are older pets who need a new home.

Believe it or not, next are snakes and reptiles—including two six-foot boa constrictors.

The passage groups animals by species. It also orders them from the biggest group to the smallest.

When you visit an animal shelter, you’ll find many different types of pets. Our local shelter has more cats than any other kind of animal. You can choose from dozens of kittens and fully grown cats.

The next largest group is dogs. Some are pups that were born in the shelter; others are older pets who need a new home.

Believe it or not, next are snakes and reptiles—including two six-foot boa constrictors.


Proposition and support is a pattern in which a proposal is supported by evidence such as


facts:statements that can be proved

true

statistics:facts presented in

number form

quotations:comments from people who are

experts in a field

What evidence supports the proposition below?


= fact = statistic = quotation

Vegetarians need more healthy choices in the school cafeteria. The 12 percent of students that are vegetarians have trouble getting a balanced meal. The salad bar has few protein-rich options. Furthermore, vegetarian students who want hot food are limited to potatoes and steamed vegetables.

Some have argued that adding more vegetarian items would be costly. However, according to a local nutritionist, “many vegetarian foods offer good nutritional value for the money.” In addition, healthy meals for all students should be a priority, regardless of cost.

Vegetarians need more healthy choices in the school cafeteria. The 12 percent of students that are vegetarians have trouble getting a balanced meal. The salad bar has few protein-rich options. Furthermore, vegetarian students who want hot food are limited to potatoes and steamed vegetables.

Some have argued that adding more vegetarian items would be costly. However, according to a local nutritionist, “many vegetarian foods offer good nutritional value for the money.” In addition, healthy meals for all students should be a priority, regardless of cost.

With so many different video games on the market, it’s important to understand which kinds you’ll most enjoy playing. My cousin doesn’t like video games at all.

Action-adventure games focus on exploring strange environments. Players fight enemies and gather items to help them on their quest. If you like solving puzzles, you’ll enjoy these games.

Sports games let you feel the thrill of being a professional athlete in sports such as racing and football.

Quick CheckWhich sentence disrupts the passage’s unity?

[End of Section]

What structural pattern organizes the passage?


Your TurnExplain whether this passage contains logic and coherence:

Critique Expository Text

In 1989, a huge earthquake shook San Francisco. The

earthquake hit during a World Series game between the San

Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s. These teams had

never met in the playoffs before. Oakland, however, had won

the series in the 1970s.

[End of Section]

The End

critiquing texts evaluating expository texts unity coherence logic internal consistency structural...

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