English Composition & Comprehension

You will be reading and evaluating opinion-based articles and writing a critique on it. Reading critically here means to understand, assess, evaluate, and synthesize any text that you encounter. Selected articles will be assessed from different perspectives through which you will learn how authors construct meanings and influence their readers.

Selection of Articles

Select an opinion-based article/column from a reputed source. Some of the suggested sources as follows:

Dawn

Express Tribune

Herald Pakistan

New York Times

Times Magazine

Economist

Harvard Business Review

You will be reading article and providing information about:

1) Purpose of the article

2) Author

3) Audience/Reader

4) Occasion, Genre, Context

5) Your Perspective

You are required to refer to and fill the document titled

ARTICLE #1 and 2

Link:

Information about the Selected Article

Title of the Article
Source/Publication
Date of Publication
Name of the Author

Purpose of the Article

Describe the authors overall purpose (to inform, explain, explore, evaluate, argue, negotiate, or other purpose)

What does the author hope to achieve through this article?

Is the overall purpose clear?

About the Author

What information does the article provide about the author?

Does he/she have expertise on the subject discussed in the article?

What sort of perspective might the writer have on the issue at hand?

Audience/Reader

Who is the intended audience?

Are you part of the intended audience?

What assumptions does the author make about the readers knowledge or beliefs?

From what point of view or context (social or cultural) is the author writing?

Examine your own personal bias or point of view regarding the article. Does that hinder or support you from being a critical reader of the text?

Occasion, Genre, Context

What is the occasion/background for this article?

What genre is this text?

What ideas or conversations are taking place about this topic at the moment?

Does the authors chosen genre help achieve the purpose for the audience?

Your Perspective

What is your impression of the article? How did it affect you.

Do you agree or disagree with the authors perspective? Why