Chapter 4: Evaluating the Author’s message

212:189Fall 2011

Make Inferences as you Read

• Inference: a reasoned guess about what you don’t know made on the basis of what you do know.

• Writers do not always present their ideas directly…– Info is left out if it would make the message too long or

divert the reader from the central idea/main idea.– Author’s assume the reader knows enough to fill in the

omitted idea.– The writer believes the reader will get more meaning or

enjoyment by making the inference.– Authors may leave out information to draw you toward

making the conclusion they would like you to.

How to Make Inferences• Get the literal meaning.

– Topic, main idea, key details, and organization.• Notice details

– Pay attention to usual information.• Add up the facts

– What is the writer trying to suggest?– What do the facts point to?– Why did the author include these facts or details?

• Be alert to clues– Word choice, details included or omitted, ideas emphasized, direct commentary,

author’s attitude.• Verify your inference

– Sufficient evidence– Check for overlooked details.

Assess the Author’s Qualifications

• Who is this person?• What do they do?• Where do they do it?• When did they start doing it?• How many publications do they have?• What kind of publications are they?– Entertainment Weekly vs. NY Times vs. The Journal of

the American Psychological Association• What are other people saying about them?

Identify the Author’s Purpose

• Whoa re they writing for?– General Audience– Interest Group– Children– Academics

• Why are they writing it?– Information– Persuasion– Arguments

Distinguish Between Fact and Opinion

• Fact-can be verified as true or false– Data– Numbers– Experiements

• Opinion-cannot be verified as true or false– Attitudes– Beliefs– Feelings

• Ex. 4-6 pg/ 112

Evaluate Evidence and Data

• Personal Experience or Observation• Statistics• Examples, descriptions, illustrations• Analogies (comparisons)• Historical documentation• Experimental Evidence

Be Careful!

• Even trusted sources cannot always be trusted! Always get an opinion from an outside source!

Tiananmen Square

A single man blocks an approaching column of PLA tanks on Changan Avenue east of Tiananmen Square in Beijing June 5, 1989 (REUTERS/Arthur Tsang)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_Man

U.S. War Crimes

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_war_crimes

Analyze Writers Tone

• Tone: how they “sound.”– How does their voice make you feel?• Instructive• Sympathetic• Persuasive• Humorous• Nostalgic

• Tavle 4-1 pg. 119

Annotate as You Read• Questions• Opinions• Evidence• Key points• Ideas you disagree or agree with• Good or poor supporting data examples• Inconsistencies• Definitions• Key terms• Contrasting points of view• Key arguments• Strong words• Figures of speech

Synthesize Your Ideas

• What did the author intend to accomplish?• How effectively was this done?• What questions does the work raise and answer?• What questions were ignored or left unanswered?• What contribution to your course content and

objectives does this work make?• How does the work fit your textbook?• How worthwhile is the material?• What are its strengths and weaknesses?