1984 Learning Log #5: Critical Thinking Article
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Last updated 8 months ago
4 questions
10
In a paragraph, explain what point the author is trying to make. Notice, does she introduce her main point at the beginning, middle, or the end of the article? Analyze whether the placement of her main point is appropriate. Use your critical thinking skills ;)In other words, how does she structure the article, and does it effectively support the communication of her main idea? Support your explanation and evaluation with details from the text. (100 words minimum and five sentences)
In a paragraph, explain what point the author is trying to make. Notice, does she introduce her main point at the beginning, middle, or the end of the article? Analyze whether the placement of her main point is appropriate.
Use your critical thinking skills ;)
In other words, how does she structure the article, and does it effectively support the communication of her main idea? Support your explanation and evaluation with details from the text. (100 words minimum and five sentences)
1
What type of writing is this text (i.e., argumentative, informative/expository, literary analysis, narrative)?
Definitions:- Argumentative Essay: An essay that aims to persuade the reader to agree with a specific viewpoint on a topic by presenting evidence, logical reasoning, and a clear thesis statement, often including counterarguments to strengthen the main argument; it takes a stance and tries to convince the reader.
- Informative/Expository Essay: An essay that focuses on explaining a topic or concept in a clear and objective manner, providing factual information and details without necessarily taking a position; its primary goal is to educate the reader.
- Literary Analysis Essay: An essay that examines a piece of literature, analyzing its themes, characters, literary devices, and writing style to interpret its meaning and significance.
- Narrative Essay: An essay that tells a story, often focusing on a personal experience and using vivid details to engage the reader; it prioritizes storytelling elements like plot, character development, and setting.
What type of writing is this text (i.e., argumentative, informative/expository, literary analysis, narrative)?
Definitions:
- Argumentative Essay: An essay that aims to persuade the reader to agree with a specific viewpoint on a topic by presenting evidence, logical reasoning, and a clear thesis statement, often including counterarguments to strengthen the main argument; it takes a stance and tries to convince the reader.
- Informative/Expository Essay: An essay that focuses on explaining a topic or concept in a clear and objective manner, providing factual information and details without necessarily taking a position; its primary goal is to educate the reader.
- Literary Analysis Essay: An essay that examines a piece of literature, analyzing its themes, characters, literary devices, and writing style to interpret its meaning and significance.
- Narrative Essay: An essay that tells a story, often focusing on a personal experience and using vivid details to engage the reader; it prioritizes storytelling elements like plot, character development, and setting.
1
Copy-paste all sentences in which the author uses a colon. Do you see how the second part of the sentence, after the colon, explains what comes before the colon? That's what a colon does: it introduces an explanation. (See what I did there?)
The explanation (second part) can take different forms...- a list or quotation that explains the first part
- a clarifying sentence that explains the first part
- a clarification or emphasis delivered in just a word or phrase
Copy-paste all sentences in which the author uses a colon. Do you see how the second part of the sentence, after the colon, explains what comes before the colon? That's what a colon does: it introduces an explanation. (See what I did there?)
The explanation (second part) can take different forms...
- a list or quotation that explains the first part
- a clarifying sentence that explains the first part
- a clarification or emphasis delivered in just a word or phrase
1
Reread the following mentor sentences from “Critical Thinking for College, Career, and Citizenship”:
It is different from, but often relies upon, simple recall (e.g., what does five plus seven equal?), unsupported opinions (e.g., I like vanilla ice cream), and automated actions (e.g., stopping at a red light).
You could learn to recite the definition of the theory with little meaning (e.g., photosynthesis is a process used by plants to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water using sunlight) or you could process it at a deeper level.
What do these sentences have in common? They both use the abbreviation e.g. and parentheses. The abbreviation e.g. is for the Latin phrase exempli gratia which translates to “for example.” When using e.g., you should always put a comma after the abbreviation, and it should always be placed within parentheses.
Return to your paragraph on structure above in question #1. Scan your paragraph for a potential place to use e.g., and add it in. You will likely need to add, delete, or rearrange words as you revise the sentence.
Reread the following mentor sentences from “Critical Thinking for College, Career, and Citizenship”:
It is different from, but often relies upon, simple recall (e.g., what does five plus seven equal?), unsupported opinions (e.g., I like vanilla ice cream), and automated actions (e.g., stopping at a red light).
You could learn to recite the definition of the theory with little meaning (e.g., photosynthesis is a process used by plants to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water using sunlight) or you could process it at a deeper level.
What do these sentences have in common? They both use the abbreviation e.g. and parentheses. The abbreviation e.g. is for the Latin phrase exempli gratia which translates to “for example.” When using e.g., you should always put a comma after the abbreviation, and it should always be placed within parentheses.
Return to your paragraph on structure above in question #1. Scan your paragraph for a potential place to use e.g., and add it in. You will likely need to add, delete, or rearrange words as you revise the sentence.