OBJECTIVES
1. Recognize reasons and conclusions
2. Recognize unstated assumptions
3. Draw conclusions
4. Appraise evidence
5. Evaluate statements
6. Judge whether conclusions are warranted
This is a glossary of terms that you can use to understand the contents of this session better. Print it and use it as a reference guide when necessary.
BRAIN TEASERS
Situation One:
A woman gives a beggar 50 cents; the woman is the beggar's sister,the beggar is not the woman's brother. How come?
Situation Two:
What is the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space; the beginning of every end, and the end of every race?
Situation Three:
If there are 3 apples and you take away 2, how many do you have?
ASSUMPTIONS AND CONTEXT
1.Watch the following video excerpts and answer the following questions: What happened in these situations? How can you explain the stories behind?
2.Compare your ideas with a partner and explain how you arrived at your conclusions.
3.Now watch this video. It includes the full version of the video excerpts above. How much does the story differ from what you described in the previous part?
FIVE KEY QUESTIONS TO EXERCISE CRITICAL THINKING
These are questions that can help you approach a critical analysis of any kind of discourse in any kind of medium.
1.Who created this message?
2.What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?
3. How might different people understand this message differently?
4.What values, lifestyles and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message?
5.Why is this message being sent?
1. After getting familiar with the previous questions, watch the following video and analyze it using them.
2. Compare your ideas with a partner and find commonalities and differences. Support your answers with sound arguments.
ENGLISH PRIME
English Prime (E-Prime) is a communicative proposal that suggests the removal of the verb BE for identity in all its forms (be, am, are, is, was, were, been, and being). It is a way to understand reality that will help you avoid misunderstandings, obscurity, and vagueness and thus make judgment and perception clear for other people.
1.Rephrase the following conclusions:
A. Models are stupid.
She is a model.
Therefore, she is stupid.
B. Gay people like Madonna.
He likes to listen to Madonna.
Therefore, he is gay.
PAST MODALS FOR DEGREES OF CERTAINTY
Modal verbs can also help you to tell fact from assumption. The advantage is that they help you to express how certain you are about reality.
Let`s analyze the following situation:
Amanda is late for our meeting. I called her home, but nobody answered. I called her on her cell phone, but she does not answer either.
It is almost certain:
She must have left already.
She must not have turned on her cell phone.
It is possible:
She may have forgotten about the time.
She might not have remembered about the time.
Her car could have broken down.
It is not possible:
She couldn't have been at home.
1. Match the statements with the assumptions:
2. Compare your answers with a partner. Then, take statements 2 and 3 and come up with different conclusions.
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
1.Read the following situations and answer the following questions:
a.Which conclusion is the author trying to get you to accept?
b.Which statements are being offered as reasons for accepting the conclusion?
The bus is late. It must have broken down.
She didn’t turn up for their date. She obviously doesn’t really want to be his girlfriend. If she’d wanted a serious relationship with him she wouldn’t have missed the date.
Some estimates, 150 million people have been witness to UFO sightings, including Apollo astronauts, military pilots, and ex-presidents. A CNN poll has revealed that 80% of Americans think the government is hiding knowledge of the existence of extraterrestrials.
In the following link, there are some expressions that we can use to discuss our opinions with other people. They can help you to express agreement, disagreement, or partial agreement with your interlocutor. Of course, the objective is to expand and explain why you have that perspective.
APPROACHING MUSIC AND LYRICS
James Blunt - "You're Beautiful"
1.Listen to the song and write down ten words that come to your mind when you hear it. Then, in pairs explain why you've made such selection.
2. Read the lyrics and identify:
What we know for sure about him?
What we can guess about him?
What we know for sure about her?
What we can guess about her?
SUGGESTED ACTIVITY
Assume that the following imaginary news story is factually accurate and contains no false statements:
Mad Dog, Texas, the scene of several recent UFO reports, has two new mysteries. Fritz Sheisskopf,46, was found killed in a field last night, and nearby where over a dozen mutilated cattle. Mr. Sheisskopf was identified by the police as a leader of the American Nazi Party. Six members if the Jewish Defence League, found in the area, have been questioned. David Goldberg, 23, after being held by the police for two hours was released and declared innocent of all wrong-doing.
1. Click on the following link and do the exercise. Compare your answers with a partner and reflect on the results.
We would like to thank the different individuals and organizations that have shared their ideas and resources for the creation of sessions like this one.
http://www.medialit.com/
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