READING ACTIVELY AND THINKING CRITICALLY
Throughout college, you will encounter many new vocabulary words. Textbook authors and instructors usually define important terms, but articles in academic journals, which are written for an expert audience, may leave you to figure out or look up important terms for yourself.
If you need to learn a large number of specialized terms, try the index card system:
- Write the words you need to learn on the front of three-by-five-inch index cards.
- On the back, write the word’s definition, pronunciation, and any details or examples that will help you remember it. Write the definition in your own words; don’t copy the author’s definition.
- Test yourself by reading the front of the cards and trying to recall the definition on the back of the cards. Then reverse the process. Shuffle the pack of cards to avoid learning terms in a particular order.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR, HIGHLIGHT, AND ANNOTATE
Use the following suggestions to read extended definition essays actively: (For more on previewing, see Chapter 3.)
- Preview. Preview the essay to get an overview of its content and organization and identify the term that is being defined.
- Understand the definition. As you read the essay, circle the class to which the term being defined belongs, and highlight or underline its distinguishing characteristics. (See An Extended Definition Often Includes a Standard Definition of the Term.) Mark any characteristics that are unclear or for which you need further information. If the reading does not sufficiently explain how two or more terms differ, check a standard or specialized dictionary. (Every academic field of study has specialized dictionaries, such as Music Index and A Dictionary of Economics, that list terms specific to the discipline.)
- Identify the strategies the writer uses to explain the term. Note in the margin or in a writing journal strategies (such as negation) and patterns of development (such as narration, description, illustration, or comparison-contrast) the writer uses to distinguish the term from similar terms.
- Think about the meaning. Reread the essay once again, this time concentrating on its meaning by answering the following questions:
- What is the writer’s main point? For what audience is the essay intended?
- How might the purpose and audience have influenced the writer’s choice of explanatory strategies?
- How well do the examples and other explanatory strategies work to help you understand the term? Jot down any additional characteristics or examples that you think would help explain it to your friends, relatives, or classmates.
- Consider your reactions. Try to relate the definitions to your own experience. Where or when have you observed the characteristics described? You might use your personal experiences to write an essay in which you support or challenge the writer’s definitions, or you might explain how the writer’s definition could be expanded to include these additional examples.
ANALYZING EXTENDED DEFINITIONS
When reading extended definitions, especially of judgmental or controversial terms, be alert to bias, euphemism, and strategic omissions by asking the following questions.
Are the definitions expressed in objective language? Especially in persuasive essays, definitions are sometimes expressed in subjective, emotional language that is intended to influence readers. For example, a writer who defines a liberal as “someone who wants to allow criminals to run free on the streets while sacrificing the rights of innocent victims” reveals a negative bias toward liberals and may want to make readers dislike those who describe themselves as “liberal.” When reading a definition of a controversial term, ask yourself questions like these
- Do I agree with the writer’s definition of this term?
- Do I think these characteristics apply to all members of this group?
- Is the writer’s language meant to inflame my emotions?
Are the definitions evasive? Be alert to the use of euphemisms, words or phrases that are used in place of an unpleasant or objectionable word. (For example, TV commercials often use irregularity as a euphemism for constipation.) Like persuasive definitions, they are intended to shape your thinking.
Is the term defined completely? As you evaluate extended definitions, determine whether the author has defined the term completely, covering all aspects or types. For example, can you think of any uses of dude that Mike Crissey did not include in “Dude, Do You Know What You Just Said?”