{September 15, 2009}   Blog entry#5

Critical reading for critical writing


This cite written by Zeliha Gulcat.

When doing critical reading we need to examine in detail the terms of the author’s arguement and writing style. If we know his writing style we will be able to interpret what he/she is trying to elaborate therefore reflecting his way of thinking. The use of evidence that the author supports clarifies his objectivity of his work and supports his arguement towards his chosen subject matter. But to write or analyze according to our style and understanding distorts the authors explanation. Arguements and evidence brought by the author can be used to produce an essay.  Highlighting text and analyzing them can be also used to write as an essay. In addition to highlighting when  reading the authors work  we should develop questions as we read along so as to build a body to the critical writing. For example

  • What is the main idea being expressed?
  • Is there any evidence being used?
  • How does he support his arguement?
  • In his conclusion what does he emphasize the most?
  • Are the claims consitent or coherent?

This allows room for  understanding what the writer is trying to address. Drawing up an outline of your own understanding and keeping in mind its the authors ideas. Annotating the main ideas helps to point out other ideas which might be useful in remembering the authors sentiments. This can be carried out by highlighting the main ideas, placing question marks where its unclear and using the dictionary when you come across words that we dont understand.

The importance of audience


Cite written by Steven Hale.

When choosing an audience the following have to be in mind

  • purpose
  • direction
  • style
  • language
  • good grammar
  • creativity

The importance of an audience is to give  direction on what interests our audience. From what they have read from other writers, what did they enjoy the most and will they like to expand their knowledge on it as well as what are the possibilities that they would like what Iam about to write for them. Or should I select another topic to attract them. Style gives the audience an idea of what the writer is about and his intentions. Language are the terms understood by the audience as it draws them to mimicking and expressing gestures as they read on.The purpose of all this is to keep the audience drawn to reading the paper and enjoyng it as it would be writing it.  As this develops some ideas on what to write about,the structure of the paper, sources used and . 

When writing we would like to capture our targeted audience into having the need to go on reading and learning what is intented to be addressed.This helps to determine what the targeted audiences believes, values and norms. Assumptions can be wrong and misleading at the end the targeted audience is lost.It also narrows the topic to what the audience is really interested in and defining the relationship to the audience , not generalizing. Generalizing may put of some of the targeted audience because the terms would be too shallow and unattractive. Creavtivity such as adding pictures, small phrases and diferent notes used to transit form one point to another shows that a lot of work and research was put into it. The reader already knows that they would enjoy reading your work.

Every paper has to come to an end and that would be a conclusion, you can include what you think the future may bring and  how it would affect the course and direction of the paper. At the same time justifying why you think that way and believing that your readers have have accepted your arguement and may comply to your opinion.


mazurjessicapjqp says:

The last paragraph in your “critical reading for critical writing” was my favorite out of that section. There were some great tips in there for reading critically and I will certainly keep them in mind. In the “importance of an audience” section,your last sentence of your first paragraph stops. I am interested to read the rest of the sentence if you do go back to revise that section. One tip I found to reduce the amount of typos and fragments in my writing is to copy and paste what I have written on wordpress into microsoft word and have it check for my errors because it picks up a lot more errors than on the wordpress abc check.

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