Reading Strategies
Working with Sources
Structure & Organization
Rhetorical Awareness
Miscellaneous
100
When one actively attempts to think along the lines of the author they are reading. The reader tries to find reasons to believe the author and understand the author's perspective.
What is "reading with the grain"?
100
Identify the citation mistake in the following quote: Deshpande argues that "....something about India and the gaze." (77)
The period should be after the parentheses instead of before the quotation mark.
100
When reading a piece of writing, you expect that each sentence and paragraph will connect to what has gone before it.
What is the "known + new contract"?
100
The way your character comes across when you write and speak, and is built by your tone and attitude.
What is "ethos"?
100
A topic + major, arguable claim.
What is a "thesis"?
200
Reading that confirms or agrees with what we already think or hold to be true.
What is "reading as ratification"?
200
What comprises "Part 3 - Context" (first part of lead-out) of the citation package and why is it important?
Part 3 - putting the quote in your own language and explaining what the writer is saying as well as in what context or under what conditions the writer said it. It is necessary to demonstrate your understanding of a quote in order to clearly relate it to your ideas, and to make sure you don't take the quote out of context or misread the source.
200
Give two criteria for a Critical Inquiry Question.
Questions for which we do not yet know the answers because the answers are not obvious, easy, or definitive. They resist simple agreement or disagreement. They are not either/or questions. They do not have a yes or no answer. We likely couldn’t answer them without thinking some more; they require further analysis. May employ the template, "To what extent..." or "If..., then..."
200
Refers to characteristics of the text, and is one aspect that determines the level of formality/informality in a text.
What is "tone"?
200
What is the difference between horizontal and vertical development?
Horizontal development builds an argument and moves from point to point (breadth), while vertical development elaborates or explains each point (depth).
300
When one actively attempts to disprove or complicate the ideas of the author he/she is reading.
What is "reading against the grain"?
300
What writing move is being used in the following citation package? "In stressing the value of critically examining our ideology, literary critic Robert Scholes, suggests that it is important to not just accept things as they are, or appear to be, but to look deeper and question them in order to discover their real meaning or intention. This sort of examination is important in many cases, but to say that “criticism is the only important way we have of taking something seriously” seems more paranoid than responsible (181)."
What is "countering"?
300
Revise the following two sentences to connect with lexical cohesion. "The earth is not flat and neither is reality. It is continuous, multiple, simultaneous, complex, abundant, and partly invisible."
"The earth is not flat and neither is reality. Reality is continuous, multiple, simultaneous, complex, abundant, and partly invisible."
300
When a writer takes the “wind out of the sails” of the opposing side, and shows that he/she has thought an issue through and considered it from multiple perspectives.
What is "anticipating objections"?
300
Give two reasons why the following statements are opinions: "My essay is really good." "Cereal is delicious."
Originate in assumption. Based on habit, taste, and preference. Resist further questioning. Takes the form of judgment. Assume common agreement. One opinion is as valid as the next.
400
Reading that threatens one's already held beliefs, values, and ideas.
What is "reading as risk"?
400
Define Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the citation package. Then, identify each part in the passage below: "In his essay, “On Reading a Video Text,” Robert Scholes argues that because popular culture is an important source of information and education, people need to know how to analyze and critique this information. He writes: “In this age of massive manipulation and disinformation, criticism is the only way we have of taking something seriously” (375). Scholes is suggesting that it’s only when we take the time to analyze the media and popular culture for their understanding messages that we will break the hold these forces has over the way we see our worlds."
Part 1 - Lead-in: Give the full name of the author and the title of the text being quoted. (Sentence 1) Part 2 - Quote and Cite: Provide the actual quote with proper MLA citation. (Sentence 2) Part 3 - Context (first part of lead-out): Demonstrate your understanding of the quote by putting it into your own words. (Sentence 3)
400
Define semantic and relational cohesion. What are some examples of words commonly used for relational cohesion?
Semantic cohesion renames a word/phrase in order to show the complexity that is building. Relational cohesion uses linking words to show the relationship between two ideas. Commonly used words are "therefore," "thus," "on the other hand," "but," "because," "consequently."
400
A reaction to a situation or set of circumstances, a proposed belief or consideration, and the cultural context.
What is "complaint, pitch, & moment"?
400
What is the relationship between tone and attitude?
Attitude is the way an author feels toward her audience or her subject, while tone is how she presents herself in her writing. An author may present himself with a certain tone in his writing while having a completely different attitude. If writers are not careful, his/her attitude can seep into his writing and effect his tone.
500
A rhetorical strategy that can be consciously implemented while reading.
What is "reading with and against the grain"?
500
Define Part 4 of the citation package. Then, describe illustrating, countering, borrowing, and extending for this part.
In the “So what?” part, you show how your source’s ideas connect to the point or idea you are developing and discussing. Illustrating: looking to other texts for examples of a point you want to make. Countering:showing how their ideas are limited or more complicated (yes, but... move). Borrowing: when you draw on terms or ideas from other writers to use in thinking through your subject. Extending: taking a source's ideas one step further or applying them to new situations (yes, and... move).
500
Explain why the following thesis is weak and give a possible solution to make it stronger. "Non-mainstream students are at a disadvantage when entering the standardized public school system."
PROBLEM: Statements of fact are not arguable. POSSIBLE SOLUTION: Find some avenue of inquiry, a question about the facts or an issue raised by them. Make an assertion with which it might be possible for some readers to disagree.
500
An arguable statement, specific facts that support it, and the reasoning that connects the facts to the arguable statement.
What is "claim, evidence, and warrant"?
500
Emphasizes listening, attempts to see other perspectives, tries to find commonalities, reduces audience's sense of threat or conflict, and proposes alternative solutions.
What is "Rogerian Argument"?