Module 6 - Critical Reading as Reasoning.pdf - Reading and...

Reading and Writing
Skills
Module 6 – Critical Reading as
Reasoning
Prepared by
Angieross Sharon R. Valenzuela
(for Exclusive use of AMCC students only)

2 | A M C C - R e a d i n g a n d W r i t i n g s k i l l s ( V a l e n z u e l a )
Introduction
Interaction with the text is very important to you as a reader because it will help you evaluate and formulate
judgment on how the text works.
Previously, you have learned the different functions of intertext and hypertext. Hypertext reading is more
difficult than intertext reading because of information overload as the reader needs to recognize the
accuracy of the information presented and evaluate it. Now let’s move on to e xplaining critical reading as
reasoning.
Steps Used in Critical Reading as Reasoning
Maxine Rafaella C Rodriguez and Marella Therese A. Tiongson introduced the following steps
used in critical reading as reasoning:
1. Identifying assertions – Identify by a common type of assertion such as fact, convention, opinion,
and preference
2. Formulating a counterclaim – Counterclaims are made to rebut a previous claim
3. Determining evidence – Evidence is the details given by the authors to support his/her claims
Example
1. You are asking your father for an Android phone — that is your claim.
2. Then, your father answers you, “I am sorry, but you couldn’t.”— this is his counterclaim.
3. He might say that you already have a cellphone. Now, you are going to formulate a
reason for your counterclaim. You may say that the reason you are asking for an Android
phone is because you need to use it for your online class and would be very helpful in
the new normal classroom setup.
When you write your counterclaim, you are expressing unfavorable statements. Therefore, it is needed that
you use hedges, which are words or phrases that give a courteous tone.
Forms of Hedges
1. Modals: may, could, would, should, might, certain, must, etc.
2. Frequency adverbs: usually, generally, commonly
3. Probability adverbs: probably, possibly, presumably
Example:
The common cold is caused by a virus.
With hedges:
1. The common cold must be caused by a virus.
2. The common virus is certain to be caused by a virus.

3 | A M C C - R e a d i n g a n d W r i t i n g s k i l l s ( V a l e n z u e l a )
Evaluative Statement
Evaluative Statement is a statement that states one's sound judgement about
something through writing which is supported by reasons and evidences. It also
presents the strengths and weaknesses of something based on a set of criteria
which needs to be factual, substantial, and unbiased.
To formulate an evaluative statement, one needs to read the entire text
carefully and critically to understand and to check for possible fallacies in the
argument presented by the writer. Just like any other writing, the formulation
of the evaluative statements is done in the same way except that the statement
is about your own judgment of the text’s content and properties. You may
formulate your evaluative statements in two ways such as formulating
assertions and counterclaims. Meanwhile, you will be formulating meaningful counterclaims at the second
part of this module. The question now is, how are you going to form evaluative statements? It’s very simple!