GUESS

ACTIVIT
Y NO. 1

WHAT?
CRITICAL
READING
What is Critical
Reading ?
Understand and
Analytic activity
analyze text

Active
approach to
reading that Evaluate the
involves evidence
examination of
text
Draw Forms
inferences from connections
the choice of with prior
language knowledge and
observed experience
 To the critical reader, any
single text provides but one
To non-critical readers, texts portrayal of the facts, one
provide facts. Readers gain individuals take on the
knowledge by memorizing the subject matter. Critical readers
statements within a text. thus recognize not only what a
text says, but also how the
author convey the message.
ACTIVIT
Y NO. 2

THINK of five (5) characteristics

of a critical reader.
 CharacteristicsofC
riticalReaders

Criticalreadersarewillingtospendtimereflectingontheideaspr
esentedinthe text.
Criticalreadersareabletoraisequestionswhilereading.
Criticalreaderscanthinklogically.
Criticalreaderscanrecognizeerrorinthoughtandpersuasionas
wellasrecognizegood arguments.
Criticalreadersareskeptical.
Criticalreadersareopenminded.
Criticalreadersareintouchwiththeirownpersonalthoughtsandi
deasabouta topic
Criticalreadersareabletoidentifyargumentsandissues.
Criticalreadersarecreative.

Three types of
reading and
analysis

What a
text
says?
restatem
ent
What a What a
text text does?
means?
inference descripti
on
Consider the following statement:
The Senator admitted owning the gun that killed his wife.
What can be inferred from this statement?
There is a Senator.
He owns a gun.
He is married.
His wife is dead.
That gun caused her death.
The Senator admitted owning that gun

The Senator admitted owning the gun that killed his wife.

Now, what cant be inferred?

We do not necessarily know if the Senator's admission is true.
We do not really know whether the Senator is in any way responsible for
his wife's death, nor do we know that she died of gun shot wounds.
We do not even know if it was murderit might have been suicide or an
accident.
Read the following
story.
A man and his son are
driving in a car. The car
crashes into a tree, killing
the father and seriously
injuring his son. At the
hospital, the boy needs to
have surgery. Upon looking
at the boy, the doctor says
(telling the truth), "I cannot
operate on him. He is my
son.
 TECHNIQUES TO DEVELOP CRITICAL
READING SKILLS
1. Keeping a reading journal In a reading
journal, you are writing your feelings and
ideas in reaction to your reading assignment.
This process allows you to develop your
impressions of the text and connect them to
your personal experiences. This allows you to
better relate to the essay and understand the
authors ideas. the text Annotating the text
2. Annotating
simply means making notes on your copy of
the reading. This includes highlighting or
underlining important passages and writing
notes, comments, questions, and reactions on
the margins. By doing this, you are entering
into a dialogue with the author and not just
passively reading the text
 The fairy tale Snow-white and Rose-red, by the Grimm brothers, is an excellent
example of a conservative, adult-centered text. In this text, the agency is with the adults
and the children are seen as nostalgic images of childhood. Snow-white and Rose-red
prove that children are good and follow the direction of adult figures even when the adult
may not be present.
The conservative nature of this text is overwhelming. The author is not
challenging children to do anything; but rather teaching them that if they are obedient
then they will be happy. For example, Snow-white and Rose-red are described in various
ways throughout the story: . . . the sweetest and best children in the world, always
diligent and always cheerful . . . they always walked about hand in hand whenever they
went out together . . . they drew round the fire, while the mother put on her spectacles
and read aloud from a big book and the two girls listened and sat and span . . . the tender-
hearted children . . . The children are described as wonderful and obedient children
who help anyone in need. They are seen as a quaint family that never argues, listens to
their mother read stories around a fire, and did traditional girl things like
spinning. The ending shows that because of their good hearts they were rewarded:
Snow-white married him, and Rose-red his brother, and they divided the great treasure
the dwarf had collected in his cave between them. The old mother lived for many years
peacefully with her children . . . This fairy tale ending shows that if you are a good
child then good things will happen to you. The text does not wish for children to
challenge the things that their mother tells them to do. The text reinforces a sense of
good behavior and family closeness.
The Hospitality of The Pigeon

Onceuponatime,therelivedtwopigeons.Theywerehusbandand
wife.Theyspendtheirdaylookingforfood.Intheeveningthey
wouldcomeandrestontheirfavoritetreeintheforest.

Oneevening,thewifereturnedhomeearly.Ausualshewas
waitingforherhusband,whensuddenlyitstartedraining.She
stratedtoworry.Whereareyou,mydear?Younevergetsolate,"
shewhisperedtoherself.

Justthenshesawabird-catchercomingtowardsher.Inacagehe
hadapigeon.Itwasherhusband.OHno,whatshallIdonow"I
wishIcanhelpmyhusband,"shesaid.Shedesperatelytriedto
distractthebird-catcherbyflappingherwings,butallinvain.

Soon,itstoppedraining.Brrr!Itissocold,"saidthebird-catcher.
Hisclotheswerewet.Hedecidedtositunderthesametreewhere
thetwopigeonslived.
Thepoorwifesatbyherhusbandscage.Andshestartedtocry.Thehusbandsaid.Donotfeel
sad,dear.Wenowhaveaguest.Thismanisshiveringandhungry.Heneedsyourhelp."Hearing
this,thewifeflewaroundgettingdrytwigs.Shemadeafireforthebird-catcher.Thenshelooked
atthebird-catcherandsaid,Youareourguest,sinceIhavenofoodtooffer,Iwilljumpintothis
fire.InfewminutesIwillbecomeanedibleitemforyou.Youcaneatme."

Bynow,thebird-catcherwasoverwhelmedbythehospitalityofthehumblepigeoncouple.Heat
oncestoppedthewifejumpingintothefire.

Heopenedthecageandsetthehusbandfree.Ihavebeencruelandselfish.Iwillnevertrapany
birdinmynetagain,"saidthebird-catcherandwentaway.Thetwopigeonswerehappytobe
reunited.
 TECHNIQUES TO DEVELOP CRITICAL
READING SKILLS
3. Outlining the text- By locating the thesis
statement, claims, and evidence, and then
plotting these into an outline, you can see
how the writer structures, sequences, and
connects his/her ideas. This way you will be
able to better evaluate the quality of the
writing.
4. Summarizing the text -A summary
consists of getting the main points of the
essay and important supporting details.
Summarizing is a useful skill because you can
better understand the reading if you can
recognize and differentiate major and minor
points in the text.
 TECHNIQUES TO DEVELOP CRITICAL
READING SKILLS
5. Questioning the text Questioning the
text involves asking specific questions on
points that you are skeptical about. These
may be topics that do not meet your
expectations or agree with your personal
views. Alternately, you should also take note
of things that you found impressive.
 SKILLS NEEDED IN CRITICAL
READING

1. Identifying and Analyzing Claims

a. Determining Explicit and

Implicit Information Critical
reading also means that you are
able to distinguish the information
that is clearly stated (explicit) in
the text from ideas that are
suggested (implicit)
SKILLS NEEDED IN CRITICAL
READING

2. Defining Claims Whenever

you read something, you find
yourself looking for the writers
point or position regarding the
chosen topic. That point is also
known as the claim, or the
central argument or thesis
statement of the text. This
claim is what the writer tries to
prove in the text by providing
details, explanations, and
other types of evidence.
Characteristics of good claims:

1. A claim should be
argumentative and
debatable. 2. A
claim should be
specific and focused. A
claim should be
interesting and
engaging.
3. A claim
should be logical.
The Ignorant Man

Therewasavillageinakingdom.Therewaslivingamilkman.HisnamewasDeenu.Hehadbuilthis
hutfarawayfromhisvillage,inthewoods.Helovedthequietnessofthewoodsratherthanthenoisy
atmosphereofthevillage.Helivedinhishutwithhistwocows.Hefedthemwellandtookproper
careofthem.Everydayhetookthetwocowstoanearbylaketobaththem.Thetwocowsgavemore
milk.Withthemilkthatthetwocowsgave,heearnedenoughmoneytolivehappily.

Deenuwasanhonestman.Thoughhewascontent,attimeshewouldberestless.Thereissomuch
wrongandevilinthisworld.Istherenobodytoguidethepeople?"thisthoughtmadehissadevery
nowandthen.

Oneevening,theignorantman,Deenuwasreturninghomeaftersellingmilkinthevillage.Hesawa
saintsittingunderatreeandmeditating.Heslowlywalkeduptohimandwaitedforthesainttoopen
hiseyes.Hewashappytobewiththesaintforsometime.Hedecidedtowaitthereitselftillthesaint
openedhiseyes.

Afterawhile,thesaintslowlyopenedhiseyes.Hewassurprisedtoseeamanpatientlysittingbeside
him.

Whatdoyouwant?"askedthesainthumbly.

IwanttoknowwhatthepathtoTruthandPietyis?WhereshallIfindHonesty?"askedDeenu.
Thesaintsmiledandsaid,Gotothepondnearbyandaskthefishthesamequestion.Shewillgive
youtheanswer."

Thenasaskedtodo,theignorantman,Deenuwenttothenearbypondandaskedthesamequestion
tothefish.Thefishsaid,Okindman!First,bringmesomewatertodrink."Denywassurprised.He
said,Youliveinwater.Butyoustillwantwatertodrink?Howstrange!"

Atthismoment,thefishreplied,Youareright.Andthatgivesyoutheanswertoyourquestionas
well.Truth,Pietyandhonestyareinsidetheheartofaman.Butbeingignorant,hesearchesfor
themintheouterworld.Insteadofwanderinghereandthere,lookwithinyourselfandyouwillfind
them."

ThisgaveanimmensesatisfactiontoDeenu.Hethankedthefishandwalkedhomeawiserman.He
changedthewayinwhichhesawthisworldaswellashimself.Fromthatday,Deenuneverfelt
restless.

Hetookhisbesttocarrythismassagetotherestofhisfellowhumanbeings.Allhisfriendsaccepted
himastheirmasterandconsultedhimtoovercometheirmentalproblems.Heledthemproperly.
Policies and Achievements of the
Government and Regeneration of the
Filipino by President Manuel L. Quezon
[Delivered before the faculties and
student bodies of public and private
schools, colleges, and universities, at
the Jos Rizal Memorial Field, August 19,
1938]
National strength can only be built on
character. A nation is nothing more nor less
than its citizenry. It is the people that make up
the nation and, therefore, it cannot be stronger
than its component parts. Their weakness is its
failings, their strength its power. Show me a
people composed of vigorous, sturdy
individuals, of men and women healthy in
mind and body; courteous, brave, industrious,
self-reliant; purposeful in thought as well as in
action; imbued with sound patriotism and a
profound sense of righteousness; with high
social ideals and a strong moral fiber; and I will
show you a great nation, a nation that will not
be submerged, a nation that will emerge
We are engaged in the epic task of building our
nation, to live and flourish, not for a day but
for all time. We must find the flaws, if there be
any, in our concept of individual and
community life, as well as in our character,
and proceed at once to remedy them.
I have an abiding faith in our people. I know
that they have all the faculties needed to
become a powerful and enlightened nation.
The Filipino is not inferior to any man of any
race. His physical, intellectual, and moral
qualities are as excellent as those of the
proudest stock of mankind. But some of these
qualities, I am constrained to admit, have
become dormant in recent years. If we
compare our individual and civic traits with
those that adorned our forefathers, we will
find, I fear, that we, the Filipinos of today, have
lost much of the moral strength and power for
growth of our ancestors. They were strong-
willed, earnest, adventurous people. They had
traditions potent in influence in their lives,
individually and collectively. They had the
courage to be pioneers, to brave the seas,
But those traditions are either lost or
forgotten. They exist only as a hazymist in our
distant past. We must revive them, for we
need the anchorage of these traditions to
guide and sustain us in the proper discharge of
our political and social obligations.
The Filipino of today is soft, easy-going. His
tendency is towards parasitism. He is
uninclined to sustained strenuous effort! He
lacks earnestness. Face-saving is the dominant
note in the confused symphony of his
existence. His sense of righteousness is often
dulled by the desire of personal gain. His norm
of conduct is generally prompted by
expediency rather than by principle. He shows
a failing in that superb courage which impels
action because it is right, even at the cost of
self-sacrifice. His greatest fear is not to do
wrong, but of being caught doing wrong. He is
frivolous in his view of life. His conception of
virtue is many times conventional. He takes
his religion lightly. He thinks that lip-service
and profession are equivalent to deep and
abiding faith. He is inconstant; he lacks
There are those who are apt to compromise
with ethical principles and to regard truth as
not incompatible with misrepresentation or
self-deceit.
This appraisal of the character of our people
today may sound too severe. You will realize
that I would be happier if I could only shower
praise upon my countrymen. But my
responsibility as head of this Nation compels
me to face and state facts, however
disagreeable they may be to me or to our
people, for it is only thus that we can remedy
existing evils that threaten to destroy the
vitality and vigor of the race. Because I have
not lost faith that there is, within us, all the
spiritual and moral forces needed for the
building of a great nation, I am ruthless in
pointing out our present shortcomings. Our
taskit is a heroic taskis to awaken and
apply these faculties so that our people should
become what of right they should be: morally
strong, virile, hard-working, refined,
enterprising, persevering, public-spirited.
I want our people to grow and be like the
If we have the will to survive and the will to I call upon all the teachers, the ministers of
achieve social efficiency, we can not delay this every faith, the political and social leaders,
task of spiritual regeneration. Let us begin to and particularly upon you the young men and
mold the typical Filipino. young women to be at the vanguard of this
To insure the accomplishment of this task of crusade.
national spiritual reconstruction, we shall We have attained our freedom, but our spirit is
formulate and adopt a social codea code of still bound by the shackles forged from the
ethics and personal conducta written frailties of our nature. We owe it to ourselves
Bushidothat can be explained in the schools, and our posterity to strike them down.
preached from the pulpits, and taught in the Other peoples of the world are straining
streets and plazas, and in the remotest corners themselves to attain higher levels of progress
of our land. We shall indoctrinate every man, and national security. We shall not lag behind.
woman, and child in its precepts. By every The Filipino people are on the march, towards
means and power at my command, I shall their destiny, to conquer their place in the sun!
strive to enforce its principles and to require
that they be so universally and constantly
observed, that our children may breathe it in
the air and feel it in their very flesh. Every
Filipino is a part and an objective of this great
national movement, the success of which
depends upon his own success in building up
his character and developing his faculties.
This undertakingthe regeneration of the
Filipino constitutes the paramount interest of