CRITICAL READING 1717

Ten Steps Chapter 10

INTRODUCTION

Skilled readers are those who can recognize an author’s point and the support for that point.

Critical readers are those who can evaluate an author’s support for a point and determine whether that support is solid or not.

This chapter will help you: Separate fact from opinion Detect propaganda Recognize errors in reasoning

SEPARATING FACT FROM OPINION

FACTSFacts are solidly grounded and can be checked for

accuracy Can be proved true through objective evidence Can be physical proof, spoken testimony, or written

testimonyExamples of facts:

My grandfather has eleven toes. In 1841, William Henry Harrison served as president of the

United States for only thirty-one days; he died of pneumonia. Tarantulas are hairy spiders capable of inflicting on humans

a painful but not deadly bite.

OPINIONS

Opinions are afloat and open to question Belief, judgment, or conclusion that cannot objectively

be proved trueExamples of opinions:

My grandfather’s feet are ugly. Harrison should never have been elected president in

the first place. Tarantulas are disgusting.

ADDITIONAL POINTS ABOUT FACT AND OPINION

1. Statements of fact may be found to be untrue.2. Value words (ones that contain a judgment) often represent opinions. They are generally subjective, not objective.

Best, worst, better, worse, great, terrible, lovely, disgusting, beautiful, bad, good, wonderful

3. The words should and ought to often signal opinions.4. Don’t mistake widely held opinions for facts.

DETECTING PROPAGANDA

Propaganda promotes something (a cause, business, person, etc.). It is often misleading.

This chapter will introduce you to six of the many types of propaganda techniques:

Bandwagon, Testimonial, Transfer, Plain Folks, Name Calling, Glittering Generalities

BANDWAGON

“Jump on the bandwagon.”Tells us to buy a product or support a certain

issue because, in effect, “everybody else is doing it.”

Example: An ad on the bus tells you to “Become one of the growing number of people who watch Action News.”

TESTIMONIAL

Involves celebrities and people who are famous for various things

The testimony of famous people influences the viewers that admire these people

Example: “This yogurt can help regulate your digestive system in just two weeks,” says a famous actress. And it tastes great.”

TRANSFER

Most common type of propagandaProducts or candidates try to associate

themselves with something that people admire, desire, or love.

Example: A beautiful woman is used to promote a cause. (The hope is that we transfer the positive feelings we have toward an attractive person to the product being advertised.)

Example 2: An American flag is used to promote a product. (The hope is that we transfer our feelings of patriotism to the product being advertised.)

PLAIN FOLKS

Plays on the fact that people are distrusting of those with more power

Involves presenting oneself as an ordinary, average citizen to appeal to the masses

Example: The chairman of a poultry company is shown leaning on a rail fence in front of a farmhouse. He says, “I’m proud to uphold the values that go back to our company’s start on my great-grandfather’s farm in 1900.”

NAME CALLING

The use of emotionally loaded language or negative comments to turn people against a rival product, candidate, or movement

Example: The opponents of a political candidate say he is a “spineless jellyfish.”

Example 2: A cell phone service advertises: “Unlike some services, we won’t rip you off with hidden charges or drop your calls.”

GLITTERING GENERALITIES

An important-sounding but unspecific claim about some product, candidate, or cause

Cannot be proved true or false because no evidence is offered to support the claim

Uses general words like “great,” “ultimate,” or “simply the best.”

Example: A financial advisor says: “True wealth is about more than money. It’s about achieving life.”

Example 2: A magazine ad for a line of women’s clothing advertises: “Let yourself shine.”

1. COMPLETE PRACTICES 1 (406) & 2 (411)

2. THEN COMPLETE THE NOTES FOR ERRORS IN REASONING.

3. THEN COMPLETE PRACTICE

Fact/Opinion and Propaganda Techniques

RECOGNIZING ERRORS IN REASON

Fallacy: errors in reasoning (often take the place of the real support needed in an argument)

Common fallacies: changing the subject and hasty generalizations

You will learn about the following in this chapter: Three fallacies that ignore the issue (circular

reasoning, personal attack, straw man) Three fallacies that oversimplify the issue (false

cause, false comparison, either-or)

CIRCULAR REASONING

Part of a point cannot reasonably be used to fully support it

Also known as “begging the question”Example: Ms. Jenkins is a great manager

because she is so wonderful at managing. We still do not know WHY she is a great manager.

Example 2: Exercise is healthful, for it improves your well-being. Healthful and well-being are essentially the same

point.

PERSONAL ATTACK

Ignores the issue under discussion and concentrates on the character of the opponent (frequently seen in political debates)

Example: Our mayor’s opinions about local crime are worthless. Last week, his own son was arrested for disturbing the peace.

STRAW MAN

An opponent made of straw can be defeated very easily. If someone’s REAL opponent is putting up a good fight, it seems more effective to build a scarecrow and battle it instead.

Suggests that the opponent favors an obviously unpopular cause

Example: The candidate for mayor says she’ll cut taxes, but do you really want fewer police officers protecting our city?

FALSE CAUSE

The mistake in assuming that because event B follows event A, event B was caused by event A.

People tend to oversimplify and base their opinions on one cause rather than looking at all causes.

Example: The baseball team was doing well before Paul Hamilton became manager. Clearly, he is the cause of the decline. Event A: Paul Hamilton became manager. Event B: The baseball team is losing games.

FALSE COMPARISON

The assumption that two things are more alike than they really are

Example: When your grandmother was your age, she was already married and had four children. So why aren’t you married?

Example: All of my friends like my tattoo and pierced tongue, so I’m sure my new boss will too.

EITHER-OR

It is often wrong to assume that there are only two sides of an issue. Offering only two choices when more actually exist is demanding that people make a choice without all the facts.

Example: “You’re either with us or against us.”

Example 2: People who support gun control want to take away our rights.

Example 3: Eat your string beans, or you won’t grow up strong and healthy.

Complete Ten Steps Practices

1-3