Read the article by Sharon Vaughn and Jack M. Fletcher
After critically reading the article, you will be required to answer a series of questions. What do we mean by read critically? Critical reading means more than just skimming the subheadings of a textbook chapter or highlighting the occasional phrase. Critical reading means taking the time to think carefully about what is being said in a text. It involves identifying key features in the reading, such as the authors argument and the evidence being used to support it. It means not taking for granted that whatever you are reading is objective or absolute fact, but analyzing and evaluating the credibility of a text using a set of criteria. Once you have read the article, answer the following five questions:
What is the main topic of the article?
What is the issue being discussed?
What position (argument) does the author make?
What evidence does the author put forward?
How convincing is this evidence (quality of evidence, inclusion/discussion of counter-arguments, glaring omissions)?
Framework for Critical Reading
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Identify the Main Topic: What is the overall subject matter being addressed? Look for keywords in the title, abstract, and introductory paragraphs.
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Identify the Issue: What specific problem or question is the author trying to address? What is the gap in knowledge or understanding that the author seeks to fill?
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Identify the Author’s Position (Argument): What is the author’s main point or thesis statement? What are they trying to convince the reader of?
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Analyze the Evidence: What evidence does the author present to support their position? Is it qualitative, quantitative, or both?
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Qualitative: Consider the credibility of sources, the depth of analysis, and the potential for bias.
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Quantitative: Consider the sample size, statistical methods used, and the potential for error or misinterpretation.
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Evaluate the Evidence:
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Quality: Is the evidence relevant, reliable, and sufficient to support the author’s claims?
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Counter-arguments: Does the author acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints? How effectively do they refute or concede to these counter-arguments?
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Omissions: Are there any significant omissions or gaps in the evidence that raise questions about the validity of the author’s argument?
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Framework for Critical Reading
-
Identify the Main Topic: What is the overall subject matter being addressed? Look for keywords in the title, abstract, and introductory paragraphs.
-
Identify the Issue: What specific problem or question is the author trying to address? What is the gap in knowledge or understanding that the author seeks to fill?
-
Identify the Author’s Position (Argument): What is the author’s main point or thesis statement? What are they trying to convince the reader of?
-
Analyze the Evidence: What evidence does the author present to support their position? Is it qualitative, quantitative, or both?
-
Qualitative: Consider the credibility of sources, the depth of analysis, and the potential for bias.
-
Quantitative: Consider the sample size, statistical methods used, and the potential for error or misinterpretation.
-
-
Evaluate the Evidence:
-
Quality: Is the evidence relevant, reliable, and sufficient to support the author’s claims?
-
Counter-arguments: Does the author acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints? How effectively do they refute or concede to these counter-arguments?
-
Omissions: Are there any significant omissions or gaps in the evidence that raise questions about the validity of the author’s argument?
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