STUDY AND WRITING SKILLS
11.4
STUDY SKILLS
THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT READING TEXTS
1
When people think critically, they ask questions (see
Lesson 6.4: Study skills). So when you read a new text,
asking questions will help you to understand the text
better. Add three or four questions to this list. Then
check on page 138.
Where did the text appear (e.g. on a website, on a poster)?
Who wrote it, and who will re
a
d it?
2
Read the action group newsletter below and answer
the questions from Exercise 1. Then compare your
ideas with a partner.
3
a
You can ask yourself other questions about the
text. Read sections 1–4. Then add questions a–d below
to the correct section. You may use the same section
twice.
1
Quality of information
In the first two paragraphs, can I find examples of
information that is a) fact and b) opinion?
2
Reasons for something
How many reasons does the writer give why it is not
a good idea to build a new runway? What are they?
Which do I think is the most important?
3
What is missing
Does the letter give arguments for and against the
new runway?
4
Language
What do I think the phrase
a very long time
means
in paragraph 2: five years? 20 years? 200 years?
something else?
a
Only 4,000 people live in the village near the
airport. Why doesn’t the writer mention this fact in
his letter?
b
What is the effect of the word
beautiful
, which is
used to describe the village?
c
Is everything in the letter true?
d
What does the phrase
the majority of local people
mean in paragraph 3: 51%? 60%? 75%? more?
3
b
Now answer all the questions above.
3
c
Do you think the letter will have the effect that the
writer wants? Why?/Why not? Imagine you live in this
village. Will you go to the meeting?
Dear Resident
As I am sure you know, the government and the British
Airports Organisation (BAO) want to build a new runway
at the local airport before 2022. The location they have
chosen is on the north side of the airport, where our
village now stands.
As local residents, we do not believe that a new runway is
a good idea. Our beautiful village will not exist any more,
and many families will lose their homes – families who
have lived and worked in the area for a very long time.
Also, the increase in air traffic will create a lot of noise
and pollution.
We already know that the majority of local people are
against the plans. As a result,
we are setting up an
action group
in order to fight against the plans for this
airport. The first meeting of our group will be in
the
Community Centre
on
Monday 5 July at 7.30 p.m.
We hope you can join us then. We will decide how we can
best organise our protest. Please help us to protect our
homes, our way of life and our environment for you and
for future generations.
Roderick Chetter
President, Community Action Group
NEWSLETTER
C
ommunity
A
ction
G
roup
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