Critical Reading/Thinking Format

 

Mt. San Antonio College Philosophy Department

 

Critical Reading/Thinking Format

 

1. What is the purpose of the reading? Is the purpose explicitly stated?

 

2. What problem does the author attempt to identify and to resolve?

 

3. What are the key terms and concepts of the problem?

 

4. How are these terms related? Wright a paragraph or draw a flow chart.

 

5. How are the terms functionally defined?

    What terms does the author define?

 

6. What thesis does the author present?

 

    Negative: Arguing against

 

    Positive: Arguing for

 

7. How is the thesis substantiated?

 

8. In order to entertain the problem as well as the thesis, what philosophy of life must the author affirm?

    (Identify several of the more significant assumptions or convictions.)

 

9. Do you accept or reject the argument? Why?