Maria Galvan

WRI 10-18
Reading Response
FTCA Ch. 2

Part 1
In the chapter Critical Reading: Getting Started from the guide From Critical Thinking to
Argument, authors Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau explain how an essay should be started,
summarized, paraphrased, and how to avoid plagiarism. Barnet and Bedau develop their claim
about how to start, summarize, paraphrase, and avoid plagiarism in an essay by giving several
examples of essays and showing the reader how they critically analyze the essays. Barnet and
Bedaus purpose is to teach the reader how to properly start an essay as well as summarize and
paraphrase when needed, all while avoiding plagiarism. The authors use a didactic tone with
their unacquainted audience.
Part 2
1. The place of publication may also tell you something about the essay. For instance, the
National Review is a conservative journal. If you notice that an essay on affirmative action was
published in the National Review, you are probably safe in tentatively assuming that the essay
will not endorse affirmative action. Pg. 40 P. 2.
Before reading this passage from the text, I had never thought of checking the place of
publication of an essay to get a better sense of what the essay might be about. This is a great step
to take when previewing an essay, and I will most likely start checking from now on the place of
publication of my readings. Not only does the place of publication indicate whether the essay is
credible but it also gives you a general understanding of what the essay will develop into.
2. Perhaps, then, the definition must be amended to material that stirs lustful thought in the
average person. But will this restatement do? First, it may be hard to agree on the characteristics
of the average person. Pg.44 P. 5.
This passage from the text was very interesting because when I think of the definition of
pornography I think of the something very similar to material that stirs lustful thoughts in the
average person. Later on the authors discuss how this particular definition has flaws in the sense
that materials can pertain to anything; for example a picture of a piece of lingerie can create
lustful thoughts in some people. This would mean that a picture of lingerie is pornography
therefore, it should be banned. Word placement is extremely powerful and can change
someones perspective drastically. I never think of how someone will interpret my writings so I
dont check my writings more in depth to see if they can have another meaning to someone else;
I usually just try to get my point across. This passage has helped me rethink the way I go about
editing my writings.

3. Avoid patchwriting it is not acceptable. Enclose direct quotations within quotation marks, or,
if the quotations are long, set them off. Pg. 51 P.7.
These advising points were interesting because to me, these are things that people should be
aware of. Plagiarism is a very touchy subject, throughout high school and college students are
constantly reminded of the consequences of plagiarism and how sever plagiarism is. I know this
is a guide to teach readers how to improve their writing but how can a reader not be aware of
plagiarism? Maybe instead of telling the reader that patchwriting and not citing a source is
plagiarism, the authors should have added other forms of plagiarism that are less known.
Part 3
The authors start the chapter by giving the readers pointers on how to preview an essay. Next,
the authors move on the showing the reader a most effective way of summarizing, annotating,
and paraphrasing an essay. After that they discuss patchwriting and how it can be considered
plagiarism and how to avoid plagiarism. Finally, Barnet and Bedau give some sample essays for
the reader to read through and critically analyze by following what they just taught in the
chapter. The sample essays are somewhat effective because they give the reader a chance to
practice what they just learned, however, the essays dont have the authors annotations,
summarizations, etc. for the reader to compare their work to. The technique used by the authors
is very effective because they explain part by part what a person would usually do when
analyzing an essay from the previewing to annotation, summarizing, paraphrasing, and lastly
checking for plagiarism.
Part 4
Medium: Chapter in From Critical Thinking to Argument; the authors use essays and short
passages from texts to give examples of how to critically analyze an essay.
Audience: Anyone who wants to improve on analyzing texts, summarizing, paraphrasing,
annotating, and how to avoid plagiarism; writers, students.
Purpose: To show readers how to preview, summarize, paraphrase, and avoid plagiarism through
patchwriting.
Part 5
I agree with the authors way of critically analyzing texts. Being able to summarize, paraphrase,
preview, and check for plagiarism is important in order to be a decent writer. The chapter helped
me better in the way I go about previewing texts and how I paraphrase essays at times. The
chapter was pact with beneficial information that gives the reader tips on how to better when
critically analyzing texts. I enjoyed reading this chapter. The added sample essays in the chapter
were also very interesting and great examples to use for critical analysis.