Welcome back to English

Composition

Welcome back to English

Composition

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Lost GenerationLost Generation• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42

E2fAWM6rA

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AgendaAgenda• Discuss Critical Thinking and Reading Discuss Critical Thinking and Reading

(the power of words)(the power of words)

• Practice Critical Thinking and Reading:Practice Critical Thinking and Reading:– ““A Final Word” A Final Word”

• Review About the Author as examplesReview About the Author as examples

Why Focus on Critical Reading and Thinking Skills?

Why Focus on Critical Reading and Thinking Skills?

Because whenever we are dealing with Because whenever we are dealing with aspects of life, we are almost always aspects of life, we are almost always

dealing with thinking.dealing with thinking.

Thinking is the way that our minds Thinking is the way that our minds make sense of the world.make sense of the world.

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Thinking determinesThinking determines• what we learnwhat we learn• how we learnhow we learn• what we think is important to learnwhat we think is important to learn• what effort we should expendwhat effort we should expend• what we think is truewhat we think is true• what we think is falsewhat we think is false• how things should be viewedhow things should be viewed• whether our learning is of high or low qualitywhether our learning is of high or low quality• whether our learning is deep or superficialwhether our learning is deep or superficial

Everything we know, believe, want, fear Everything we know, believe, want, fear and hope for, our thinking tells us.and hope for, our thinking tells us.

And this is why some people think And this is why some people think education is more dangerous than education is more dangerous than bombs.bombs.

• Malala Yousafzai said, "I want access to the world of knowledge."

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CriticalThinking Video

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking• Person A states his/her understanding Person A states his/her understanding

of what has been said, then of what has been said, then elaborates.elaborates.

• Person B agrees or disagrees with the Person B agrees or disagrees with the interpretation, or adds to the interpretation, or adds to the interpretation, then gives an example interpretation, then gives an example of it, relating the idea to something in of it, relating the idea to something in life.life.

Critical ThinkingCritical ThinkingIs a Self-Directed ProcessIs a Self-Directed Process

By Which We Take Deliberate StepsBy Which We Take Deliberate StepsTo Think at the Highest LevelTo Think at the Highest Level

Reflection, Reasons, AlternativesReflection, Reasons, Alternatives1.1. Be Be reflectivereflective: stop and think, instead of making snap : stop and think, instead of making snap

judgments, or accepting the first idea that comes into your judgments, or accepting the first idea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented in head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented in the media.the media.

Gently ask such questions as “How do you know?,” "What Gently ask such questions as “How do you know?,” "What are the are the reasonsreasons?," and “Is that a good source of ?," and “Is that a good source of information?” to prod yourself to have good reasons for information?” to prod yourself to have good reasons for your views and to seek reasons for others' views.your views and to seek reasons for others' views.

Consider Consider alternativesalternatives: hypotheses, conclusions, : hypotheses, conclusions, explanations, sources of evidence, points of view, plans, explanations, sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.etc.

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ReadingReading• Reading for entertainment, you read for ?Reading for entertainment, you read for ?

• Reading for a science class, you read to?Reading for a science class, you read to?

• Reading critically, however, demands Reading critically, however, demands more than simply paying attention or more than simply paying attention or identifying important ideasidentifying important ideas

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Reading CriticallyReading Critically

You can improve your writing if you You can improve your writing if you observe how other writers observe how other writers

•choose wordschoose words

•introduce ideasintroduce ideas

•organize essaysorganize essays

•present evidencepresent evidence

This requires critical thinking.This requires critical thinking.

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Above All, Read to LearnAbove All, Read to Learn• Consider this piece of writing a work Consider this piece of writing a work

sample. sample.

• Is there anything you can learn from Is there anything you can learn from this writer?this writer?– What do you like or dislike about the What do you like or dislike about the

writing?writing?– What aspects of your writing do you What aspects of your writing do you

want to improve? How does this writer want to improve? How does this writer handle those aspects?handle those aspects?

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Consider the Style and Choice of WordsConsider the Style and Choice of Words

1.1. Does the writing style and word choice reflect the writer's goal Does the writing style and word choice reflect the writer's goal and audience? and audience?

2.2. Can you locate words or phrases that might have a positive or Can you locate words or phrases that might have a positive or negative affect on readers?negative affect on readers?

a.a. Pay attention to word choicePay attention to word choice

b.b. What connotations to these words have? What connotations to these words have?

c.c. How do they influence the writer's purpose?How do they influence the writer's purpose?

3.3. What is the writer's point? What is the writer's point?

a.a. Can you summarize it in your own words?Can you summarize it in your own words?

b.b. Is it clearly stated in a sentence you can underline?Is it clearly stated in a sentence you can underline?

c.c. Does it evolve through Does it evolve through a series of statements, or is it a series of statements, or is it implied?implied?

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About the AuthorsAbout the Authors• What sort of information do they

include?

• How long are the passages?

• How detailed are the passages?

• How much personal information do they share?

• Is any information included unrelated?

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What Would You Share?What Would You Share?• About the Staff writing activity

• Josey Ranch Pet Hospital example– http://www.joseyranchpethospital.com/st

aff.php

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Wrap-upWrap-up• Introduced & Examined the process of Introduced & Examined the process of

Critical Thinking and ReadingCritical Thinking and Reading

Thank you for participating!Thank you for participating!

See you next time!See you next time!

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