Reading Skills Section 3

Page 1

To interpret means to make a sense of something or figure out what it's about. There are four important skills in interpreting what you read. First, learn to make inferences because the information in what you read may not always be directly stated. Second, separate facts from opinions. Facts stand out because they can be proven or disproven through evidence. Opinions, however, are based on the way people view a topic. Third, detect bias. The term bias refers to a tendency to believe that one viewpoint or belief is better than another. Finally, draw conclusions. Conclusions are what you decide based on the information you're given.

Page 2

When you make an inference, you come to a conclusion based on what you know. Evidence is information that supports a conclusion. A conclusion is what you decide based on evidence or opinion. Making inferences requires reading between the lines and then drawing conclusions from clues or evidence that implies something not said directly.

A fact is something that can be proved with evidence. An opinion is what someone thinks or believes about something. Another skill to use as you read is separating fact from opinion. A fact is information that can be proved or disproved based on evidence. By contrast, an opinion is not a fact. Rather, an opinion is based on the way people view or feel about a topic. Opinions may be based on fact, but they may also be based on false information or simply on a person's emotions or preferences.

Bias refers to a strong emotional preference for one viewpoint or another. Many opinions reveal a bias. A bias choose one point of view and opposes other possible viewpoints. Bias and opinions are very much alike, but opinions tend to include words and phrases such as I believe, I feel, or should. Bias, on the other hand, is typically presented as fact. It presents ideas with prejudice in order to convince others. Identifying bias requires careful reading, thinking, and sometimes even research. A bias, like any opinion, is based on the way a person interprets information. Here are two questions to ask yourself to help detect bias in material that you read:

1. Are the statements logically related? One way to detect bias is to determine if one statement logically follows from the one before it. If it doesn't, the two statements are most likely not logically related. This could indicate that the author has jumped to conclusions based on bias.

2. Does the writer use loaded words? The words complained, grumbled, and whined are synonyms that mean about the same thing. However the three words---complained. grumbled, and whined---give you a different feeling. The word complained is relatively neutral. When people complain, they're simply saying they're unhappy about something. The word grumbled, on the other hand, sends a different message. When someone is grumbling, you're more likely to think of that person as expressing anger. Finally, the word whining presents a different feeling entirely, as whining is usually considered childish behavior. A whiner complains like a child. Words like grumbled and whined are called loaded words---they carry strong feelings or emotions. Writers often use loaded to get readers to respond with an emotion. As you read, keep in mind that authors will use loaded words to evoke an emotion from you. It may be to get you to buy something, to convince you to vote in a particular way, or to get you to act in a certain way, Those loaded words may also be designed to attack a person or a person's ideas. Loaded words are also used to persuade people to interpret things in a certain way. Words like bargain, free, fine, quality, and guaranteed are very common in commercial messages. They're loaded words that are intended to influence you. To influence means to try to convince someone of something. Words may be used to influence your opinions. Split is a loaded word.

A word or statement is neutral if it isn't meant to make readers feel a strong emotion. Bias is often present in things you read. Sometimes authors intentionally insert their bias, and sometimes the bias is unintentional. And bias isn't necessarily good or bad. Bias supported by evidence makes more sense than bias based simply on opinions and feelings. Making an effort detect bias in the material you read helps you understand a writer's point of view. It also keeps you alert for opinions that don't make sense or have no support.

Making inferences, separating fact from opinion, and spotting bias helps you to draw conclusions from what you read. Conclusions are what you decide based on the information you're given. Conclusions may be useful or not useful, and they may be based on facts or on opinions. A preliminary conclusion is one that helps you get to a final conclusion.

Consider these final suggestions for making inferences and drawing conclusions:

Locate the facts in what you read, separating fact from opinion. Some statements may look like facts, even though they aren't.

While sorting out facts from opinions, remember that opinions often reveal bias. Including some facts but omitting others can also indicate bias.

As you sort out facts from opinions and look for bias, make inferences by reading between the lines. Look for what the writer is implying by the way he or she writes. By doing all of these things, you'll be better able to draw accurate conclusions.

Key points:

When you make an inference, you come to a conclusion based on what you know.

When you read, you must learn to make inferences about the information you're reading.

Evidence is information that supports a conclusion. A conclusion is what you decide based on evidence or opinion.

A fact is information that can be proved with evidence.

An opinion is what someone thinks or believes about something.

Bias refers to a strong emotional preference for one viewpoint or another.

Good readers learn to look for facts, opinions, and bias in the material they read.

Loaded words carry strong feelings or emotions.

A word or statement is neutral if it isn't meant to make readers feel a strong emotion.

Page 3

Sometimes writers use words to create mental images that, in turn, create a certain kind of feeling in readers. Imagery, a literary tool that suggests mental pictures of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, feelings, and actions. Imagery also conveys emotions and moods. Writers often use vivid words to create imagery---that is, to make images in your mind that are strong or colorful. Vivid words and phrases that create strong, colorful mental images stir the emotions. Evoking emotions and feelings with words is just what the writer intended to do. The word vivid involves producing a strong or clear impression on the senses.

Poetry is different from other kinds of writing because it's usually intended to be spoken aloud. And among all kinds of writing, poetry is closest to music. In fact, song lyrics are written very much like poetry, and many poems have been put to music. So, you might think of good poetry as "word music." A poem may have one or more stanzas. A stanza is two or more lines of poetry that create divisions within a poem. You may have noticed another thing about this poem. It's witty. Wit is the clever use of words to catch people's attention and perhaps to make them smile or laugh. Rhyme is similarity in sound of the ends of words. Many poets use rhyme to structure their poems. The rhyme of a poem is less important than the feeling it provides.

Writers, and especially poets, often use figures of speech to help their readers get a vivid and lifelike picture of something In using figures of speech, writers suggest meanings of effects that go beyond the literal meaning of a word or phrase. On the other hand, figures of speech say one thing in terms of something else. The literal meaning of a word is the same as its dictionary meaning. Two very common figures of speech are metaphors and similes. Both compare two unlike things. Similes compare two unlike things by using the words like and as. A comparison is a simile only if the words like and as is used. Metaphors also compare two unlike things but without using the words like and as.

Key points:

Imagery is a literary tool that suggest mental pictures of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, feelings, and actions.

A vivid word produces a strong or clear impression on the senses.

Poetry is a special form of writing that uses imagery to make its readers feel certain things.

A stanza is two or more lines of poetry that create divisions within a poem.

Rhyme is the similarity in sound of the ends of words.

The literal meaning of a word is the same as its dictionary meaning.

Two very common figures of speech are metaphors and similes. Both compare two unlike things. Similes compare two unlike things by using the words like and as. Metaphors compare two unlike things without using the words like and as.

Page 4

The term fiction refers to writing that's the product of someone's imagination. Fiction uses pretend created characters, rather than actual or real people. The category of fiction includes short stories, novellas, and novels. A short story is a tale with a fully developed theme, which can be read in one sitting. A novella is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. Finally, a novel is a lengthy fictional story. Fiction always includes characters and setting. Characters are the people that authors create for their stories. Setting refers to the place and time a story occurs. Settings in fiction may be real or imagined places, or a combination of both. Writers explain their characters by revealing the characters' traits, motives, and feelings. Some settings are very important to stories. In other stories, the characters stand out more than the settings. A glimmer is a small light or sparkle.

Characters and settings are very important to fiction. However, three other elements are also critical parts of a good story: plot, conflict, and theme. The term plot refers to the sequence of events in a story---that is, what the story is about. Conflict refers to the issue to be resolved in a story. Finally, theme refers to the main point of the story. It's the message the writer is trying to convey. An abbe' is a member of the French clergy. A protagonist is the main character in a story. A good plot helps you see the characters as the characters as the story develops. Conflicts are generally problems a character must confront and resolve.

Key points:

The term fiction refers to writing that's the product of someone's imagination.

Characters are the people that authors create for their stories.

Setting refers to the place and time a story occurs. Settings in fiction may be real or imagined places, or a combination of both.

Plot refers to the sequence of events in a story---that is, what the story is about.

Conflict refers to the issue to be resolved in a story.

Theme refers to the main point of the story. It's the message the writer is trying to convey.