Critical ReadingCritical Reading

Making Judgments while readingMaking Judgments while reading

FactFact

A statement that can be proven true or false A statement that can be proven true or false by objective means.by objective means.– TestTest– ObservationObservation

A statement about the future is never a fact.A statement about the future is never a fact.

OpinionOpinion

A statement that cannot be proven true or false.A statement that cannot be proven true or false.– Personal attitudes and evaluationsPersonal attitudes and evaluations

Valid Opinion—an opinion given by an expert in Valid Opinion—an opinion given by an expert in the field.the field.– Chemist: Much of our drinking water is polluted with Chemist: Much of our drinking water is polluted with

bacteria.bacteria.

Starting a sentence with, “It’s a fact that… doesn’t Starting a sentence with, “It’s a fact that… doesn’t make it a fact.make it a fact.

Fact or Opinion?Fact or Opinion?

Manny’s Restaurant serves the best Manny’s Restaurant serves the best Mexican food in Waterford.Mexican food in Waterford.

Next week, Mr. Janz will speak to the Next week, Mr. Janz will speak to the students who are planning to go to the students who are planning to go to the university.university.

In the U.S., 112 million people visit zoos In the U.S., 112 million people visit zoos every year.every year.

Find Two FactsFind Two Facts

I am a deaf newscaster for KRON-TV, I am a deaf newscaster for KRON-TV, channel 4, San Francisco. Last night my channel 4, San Francisco. Last night my deaf husband and I enjoyed watching the deaf husband and I enjoyed watching the children’s show with captions on KQED. children’s show with captions on KQED. We are very much impressed by the We are very much impressed by the effective way the captions were inserted in effective way the captions were inserted in the right places. We can see that it requires the right places. We can see that it requires a lot of work and patience. a lot of work and patience.

Continued…Continued…

We do not hear what the actors say, but we We do not hear what the actors say, but we do lip-read. It is too bad that the captions do do lip-read. It is too bad that the captions do not tell exactly what the actors said, but we not tell exactly what the actors said, but we can understand the reason for this situation. can understand the reason for this situation. Most speech is spoken too fast to have Most speech is spoken too fast to have every word captioned.every word captioned.

Find Facts and OpinionsFind Facts and Opinions

The United States first landed men on the moon in The United States first landed men on the moon in July, 1969, but it was a terrible waste of $14 billion July, 1969, but it was a terrible waste of $14 billion of the taxpayers’ hard-earned money. In fact, the of the taxpayers’ hard-earned money. In fact, the whole space program has been a waste.”whole space program has been a waste.”

I don’t agree. The space program has produced I don’t agree. The space program has produced specific benefits, especially in the area of specific benefits, especially in the area of computer technology. It has increased our computer technology. It has increased our knowledge of the moon, and it will have as yet knowledge of the moon, and it will have as yet unforeseen benefits in the future.unforeseen benefits in the future.

Slanted LanguageSlanted Language

Indirect Language—choice of words calms Indirect Language—choice of words calms the reader and makes the situation less the reader and makes the situation less emotional.emotional.

Loaded Words—choice of words makes the Loaded Words—choice of words makes the reader more emotional about a situation. reader more emotional about a situation. Will produce strong positive or negative Will produce strong positive or negative feelings.feelings.

ExamplesExamples

Indirect LanguageIndirect Language– Our new vitamin contains many important Our new vitamin contains many important

ingredients.ingredients.

Loaded wordsLoaded words

Our Our miraculousmiraculous new vitamin will change your life new vitamin will change your life foreverforever..

Indirect and LoadedIndirect and Loaded

Tribuno Wins by One StrokeTribuno Wins by One Stroke Tribuno Steals Tournament with One Lucky Tribuno Steals Tournament with One Lucky

StrokeStroke

Federal Budget Up for Next YearFederal Budget Up for Next Year Washington Off on a Spending SpreeWashington Off on a Spending Spree

Indirect/LoadedIndirect/Loaded

Mayor Selects New Agency HeadMayor Selects New Agency Head Mayor Picks Buddy for Big JobMayor Picks Buddy for Big Job

Teenage Driver Mangles BabyTeenage Driver Mangles Baby Driver Hits Five-Year OldDriver Hits Five-Year Old

Example of Loaded WordsExample of Loaded Words

The fiercest competition among students is The fiercest competition among students is often not over academic achievements, but often not over academic achievements, but over who dresses most expensively. Many over who dresses most expensively. Many students now measure parental love by how students now measure parental love by how willing their mothers and fathers are to willing their mothers and fathers are to pamper them with money for the latest fads pamper them with money for the latest fads in clothes, sneakers, and jewelry.in clothes, sneakers, and jewelry.

Spot the Loaded WordsSpot the Loaded Words

Those parents without money to waste on Those parents without money to waste on such extravagances are considered such extravagances are considered uncaring and cruel. They often watch in uncaring and cruel. They often watch in dismay and helplessness as their children dismay and helplessness as their children become involved with gangs and peddle become involved with gangs and peddle drugs to raise the money.drugs to raise the money.

Loaded WordsLoaded Words

When students are asked why they place so When students are asked why they place so much importance to clothing, they frequently much importance to clothing, they frequently reply that it’s the cool thing to do, that it reply that it’s the cool thing to do, that it gives them status and earns them respect. gives them status and earns them respect. Girls think that the only things that make Girls think that the only things that make them attractive to boys are skimpy dresses them attractive to boys are skimpy dresses and gaudy looks rather than intelligence and and gaudy looks rather than intelligence and academic excellence. academic excellence.

Jumping To ConclusionsJumping To Conclusions

Def: Ignore evidence in arriving at a Def: Ignore evidence in arriving at a conclusion.conclusion.

Ex: Most people agree that prices are going Ex: Most people agree that prices are going up, but who knows, maybe car prices will up, but who knows, maybe car prices will come down, so I think I’ll wait to buy.come down, so I think I’ll wait to buy.

Ex: Ghosts are everywhere; they surround Ex: Ghosts are everywhere; they surround us as we go about our everyday affairs and us as we go about our everyday affairs and influence our choices.influence our choices.

Begging the QuestionBegging the Question

Definition: Talking in circles, not really Definition: Talking in circles, not really answering the question or answering a answering the question or answering a different question.different question.

Example: Why is exercise good for you? Example: Why is exercise good for you? Because you should use your body.Because you should use your body.

Which one begs?Which one begs?

Why does she want to be mayor?Why does she want to be mayor?– She’d love to run the city.She’d love to run the city.– She has a program for dealing with big city She has a program for dealing with big city

problems.problems.

– Why don’t you want health care reform?Why don’t you want health care reform? Because individual freedom is under attack.Because individual freedom is under attack. Because it will mean higher taxes.Because it will mean higher taxes.

Irrelevant EvidenceIrrelevant Evidence

Def: Evidence that has nothing to do with Def: Evidence that has nothing to do with the subject under discussion.the subject under discussion.

Example: Paris Hilton’s favorite soda is diet Example: Paris Hilton’s favorite soda is diet pepsi.pepsi.

Mr. Wockal will make a great ambassador to Mr. Wockal will make a great ambassador to Sweden because he loves sailing.Sweden because he loves sailing.

Eggs are among the most healthful foods Eggs are among the most healthful foods because they are laid by hens.because they are laid by hens.

Find Irrelevant EvidenceFind Irrelevant Evidence

Flying saucers are often landing and making Flying saucers are often landing and making contact with human beings. These visitors contact with human beings. These visitors are from other worlds, and they have been are from other worlds, and they have been watching our planet for years.watching our planet for years.

Every culture describes mysterious visitors Every culture describes mysterious visitors who appeared to earthlings with strange and who appeared to earthlings with strange and secret messages. All these stories contain secret messages. All these stories contain reports of contacts with strangers.reports of contacts with strangers.

StereotypesStereotypes

Treating everyone in a group the same way. Treating everyone in a group the same way. Often includes “all” or “every” in the Often includes “all” or “every” in the statement. They oversimplify and are not statement. They oversimplify and are not reliable when judging a particular individual.reliable when judging a particular individual.

Example: All blondes are dumb. Example: All blondes are dumb. All people from Waterford are hicks.All people from Waterford are hicks.

Example of StereotypesExample of Stereotypes

The average hunter is a nuisance. Each one The average hunter is a nuisance. Each one seems to believe that because he is trying to shoot seems to believe that because he is trying to shoot an animal, he is a tough, crafty, courageous an animal, he is a tough, crafty, courageous woodsman whose chest is covered with hair. But woodsman whose chest is covered with hair. But physically, hunters tend to have a big stomach and physically, hunters tend to have a big stomach and red faces. They can’t run fast, and they wear red faces. They can’t run fast, and they wear expensive clothes. They want to kill an animal so expensive clothes. They want to kill an animal so they can tie it to a car bumper or mount it on the they can tie it to a car bumper or mount it on the wall of their family room. Hunters are noisy, wall of their family room. Hunters are noisy, obnoxious, and the dirtiest of all outdoor users.obnoxious, and the dirtiest of all outdoor users.

Weasel WordsWeasel Words

Definition: Words that keep ads honest.Definition: Words that keep ads honest. Words that allow “wiggle room” for claims.Words that allow “wiggle room” for claims. Common weasels:Common weasels: Up to.. May mightUp to.. May might More than ever twice as much couldMore than ever twice as much could As long as light starting atAs long as light starting at

Example: Using a dictionary Example: Using a dictionary couldcould improve your improve your spelling.spelling.

Identify WeaselsIdentify Weasels

There’s a new and better breakfast cereal at your There’s a new and better breakfast cereal at your store today.store today.

Nature Bars have twice as much go power.Nature Bars have twice as much go power. The vitamins could keep that bad cold away.The vitamins could keep that bad cold away. You may never want to try another granola bar You may never want to try another granola bar

again.again. You will get up to 50 servings in our box.You will get up to 50 servings in our box. Savings of up to $500 are possible.Savings of up to $500 are possible. These bulbs might last as long as three years.These bulbs might last as long as three years.