Welcome

This blog is open for anyone who wants to learn to read critically.

ANNOUNCEMENT - Journals

Assalamualaikum

Some of you have not posted your 3rd reading journal and a few have not posted journal 2. Please do so as soon as possible. It may be too late to post them once the overall results for the course are submitted to the office.

Thank you.

ANNOUNCEMENT - Final Exam

General Information

Date : 30th April 2007
Time :2.15 – 4.15 (2 hours)
Venue : To be decided later

Please be at the examination venue at least 30 minutes before the start of the exam. Please do not be LATE!

Exam Format

Two parts (A & B)

Part A

2 sections

Section 1 – Making inferences
3 paragraphs
Each has several statements of inferences based on the paragraph. State whether each statement can be inferred or cannot be inferred.

Section 2 – Main Idea & pattern of organization
5 paragraphs
State the main idea and the pattern of organization
Remember the main idea must be stated in full sentence
E.g. The National Service Program has many advantages than disadvantages
Not – The National Service Program and its advantages.

Pattern of organization: cause & effect, compare & contrast, Time order – process, sequence of dates and events, definition, classification


Part B
1 Long passage

Questions on :

Figurative language – identification and meaning
General comprehension Fact and opinion
Bias
Purpose – intended audience
Purpose
Tone
Inferences
Main idea of the whole passage.
Vocabulary – provide the meanings to several words and phrases.


Revision suggestions:

Review all the handouts given and the lecture notes posted on this blog. Go through also the blog assigments you have done and also your friends'. Read also the reflection you and your friends have done on what you have understood about the skills you have learned. Go through the tutorials and exercise linked under Tutorials and Exercises on the side bar.

If you have any questions or need any clarification please do not hesitate to ask me through this blog or sms me.

Good Luck. I pray that all of you will proceed to the degree program next semester, Insyaallah!

In-Class Assigment - Reflection-Blogging

Please write an entry reflecting on your perception/opinion on blogging/blogs.


Here are some questions as a guide. You are free to add any other comments and free to say anything and as long as you want.

Before participating in this class had you ever used a blog?
How have you used that particular blog?
How do you feel about using a blog for that purpose(s)?

How do you feel about using blog in the reading class? Would you recommend other teachers to use weblog in any classes/subjects?
Would you recommend other teachers using a blog for responding to class readings? Why/Why not?

Would you recommend English teachers/lecturers to use a blog? Give reasons.

Do you think using the blog to discuss the class readings helped you understand the reading better? Why/Why not?

How do you think the class blog, your friends' blogs , and your blog have helped (or could help)you to read critically?

Which feature(s) of the blogs you find is the most helpful?

What part of the blog or blogging activities you find interesting/advantageous?

What part of the blog or blogging activities you find troublesome/disadvantageous?

Compare the blog environment to regular classroom lessons.

What feedback have you received or comments have you heard (from your classmates) about using weblog in the reading class?

Describe any other notable thoughts or experiences during the blogging activities.

Would you continue using a blog for any other purposes after this?

In-Class Assigment - Reflection - Critical Reading Skills

For this assignment please write a reflection on what you have learned so far in the reading class. You may based your reflection on the following questions :

1. What is your understanding of the following skills covered in the course:

Main idea, pattern of organization, fact or opinion, bias, tone, purpose.

2. Which skill is the most difficult to you? Which is the easiest?

3. Which skill do you think is the most useful in reading or in helping you to read?

4. Which skill do you think you will probably apply?
5. How do you tackle the problem of a difficult skill? Give example.
6. What do you understand about critical reading?
7. How important do you think is critical reading in your future university studies?
8. In reading the articles for your journal which of the skills do you normally apply or have applied?

ANNOUNCEMENT - Quiz 3

Details for the 3rd quiz:


Date : Friday, 20th April 2007

Time : 9 - 10 am

Topics : Bias, Purpose and Tone.

Venue : To be decided later.

In-Class Assigment - Purpose and Tone

Read the following article from TIME magazine and this article from Reader's Digest. Decide on the author's purpose and tone for each then state your reasons in the Comment feature of this entry. Read your friends' answers and respond to them. In other words have a discussion.

Answers to the Handout

Check to see whether your answers is similar to mine. I will gladly reply to all your queries.

Page 1: Identifying Audience

1. People with extra cash to save or to invest. Purpose is to persuade you to invest in mutual fund.

2. Consumers of water, particularly housewives, houseowners. Purpose is to persuade you to buy a device that can filter water.

3. Car owners who are interested in sound systems. Also to persuade you to buy the Supertuner III.

4. Housewives or anyone who does his/her own laundry. A persuasion to buy Bright and White laundry detergent.

5. Car owners. To persuade you to be aware of your car engine or perhaps purchase a certain product that prevents the 'drip' and 'squeak' in your car.

Recognizing Tone (Choose from Table 6.1). May have multiple tones.

1. Assertive. The writer is confident that nuclear power is safe (last sentence)

2. Angry (outraged or disgusted) . Angry at the condition of the city. Last sentence is stated in an angry tone, "Where are our city tax dollars going if not to correct these problems"

3. Bitter (or distressed). All sentences begin with "I'm tired of..."

4. Instructive. It is telling you what to be aware of, " Be sure that they are..."

5. Solemn, sad, loving, admiring. "She was a beautiful little girl...", "...and we will never cease to mourn her death.."

Multiple Choice Exercise.

1. a. to persuade ( to change people's perception of postal workers by stating the hard work that they do).

b. insulted ( Last sentence is clear that the writer is insulted)

2. a. to persuade ( to persuade to read or buy the book) (The writer has only praises about the author of the book. e.g. "Dr. Oliver Sacks give readers an important and insightful perspective on injuries..." and "His book should be required reading..."

a. admiring tone. (the writer uses words such as 'renowned, insightful, with compassionate insight to describe Dr. Oliver Sacks)

3. a. to inform ( merely to present information about how we learn)

c. emotionally neutral (no connotative words used)

4. b. to persuade ( to persuade you to like, to honor, to be grateful or perhaps to listen to his kind of music the jazz pianist Michel Petrucciani. e.g. "The world, in turn, should be grateful for the music this young man produced."
c. enthusiastic and admiring ( "For Petrucciani - who remained upbeat, determined...", "...Petrycciani's music...it's also lush and lyrical, filled with sense of passionate longing.", "...his talent is rare and great.")

5. b. to persuade ( to persuade people not to buy SUVs due to its heavy oil consumptions, e.g. ..but by getting rid of their gas guzzling cars...", " SUV owners use more than their fair share of oil...")

a. irritated (e.g. "Owners of SUVs should show their patriotism...", "Just look at the Ford Excursion,...monsters that gobbles up...", )