Developing our Reading Skills

After getting our critical thinking lesson few weeks ago. Now, we enhance our reading skill more critic and detail by critical thinking itself. Because, in this chapter we have to be able, identify the key point of the text and the less important point. Which one is the fact that can be prove in the passage and which one is an argument. And also identify the arguments and the conclusion. 

By close reading, we must read in precise way, paying attention to every single sentence in order to find the accurate interpretation. Sometimes, this reading way make us read more slowly and deeply. Some methods in close reading skill can be used are read the text several times, focus in difficult word and link back to other sentences, make sure we do not misread; let us check whether we conclude based on the passage or not; check is the message of the text whether  inferred or appeared easily and devide wich one is the argument, and the last make sure we do not involve our own information to the passages without any kind of instruction before.

Why we have to identify the argument? Because, argument plays an important role to support the critical thinking. Then, how the argument can be identified? There are three simple points : the arguments must include a position of view, persuade other to accept that point of view, and consist of reasons which is also support the point of view.

Last but not least, conclusion usually made to emphasize the main opinion of the passage. So, ordinary it will be put on the last of the passage.

It is really difficult to identify which one is the main idea, the argument and the conclusions in the passage. Because, this is not an absolute answer like math. But, believe practise makes perfect. More practise we do more we get.

Fakhirah IR