Critical Reading

Match the definitions to the key terms.

argument bias conclusion evidence

logical progression of ideas objectivity premises unstated assumptions

- n. reasons or claims given in support of a viewpoint;

- n. a final statement or judgement made with the aim of convincing others of its truth
- n. the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true
or valid; proof
- n. not being influenced by personal feelings, tendencies or outside forces; able to judge or
assess an issue in a fair and balanced way
- a well-reasoned ordering or sequencing of points of information discussed in a text
- n. the expression of a position or stance on an issue supported by reasons or a set of reasons
- n. claims or beliefs accepted, supposed or implied as true by the author, but not mentioned
directly; hidden or missing premises …
- n. an attitude or a judgment towards an issue based on opinion instead of fact, or with a
vested interest towards favouring one particular point of view …

Rochborough Health
1 Outdoor play has beneficial effects for children in terms of both their health and their levels of
social interaction. 2 According to clinical trials carried out by Rochborough’s Health Council Advisory
Body in September this year, children who played outside for over fifty days in the year had a 20%
higher lung capacity, and 30% lower incidence of asthma and bronchial conditions than children who
played indoors. 3 Children who played outdoors also regularly reported having more friends than
those who played indoors. 4 A survey of 30 families by Rochborough Social Amenities Committee
found that parents were more likely to let their children play outdoors if they had their own gardens
or if there were supervised play areas nearby. 5 Mr Arkash of Milton Road said his children did not
feel safe playing on the Children’s meadow on the outskirts of Rochborough, as his son had been
frightened by a fox there in the past. 6 His little son looked quite tearful as his father spoke. 7 ‘He
often cries, because he has nowhere to play,’ said his father. 8 Supervised play areas can be
expensive to provide. 9 However, only 18% of homes in Rochborough have gardens. 10 Therefore, to
improve the health of all its children, Rochborough needs to provide more supervised outdoor play
areas.

Rochborough Play council Newsletter

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Identifying Key Features of an Argument

1a Highlight the conclusion in the argument.

1b Highlight the main premise in the argument.

1c Order the ideas (stated or implied) from the reading passage in the sequence that they are
discussed 1 (start) – 5 (end).

a) More outdoor play facilities are needed. _____

b) Parents from the town believe there is an insufficient amount of play areas. _____

c) Outdoor play benefits children’s health and social interaction. _____

d) A lack of facilities prevents outdoor play for many children. _____

e) Local evidence supports this proposition. _____

Discuss whether the text features a logical progression of ideas.

1d Check the types of evidence which are used in the text and write in sentence number(s) next to
the relevant evidence type.

a) case examples

b) expert opinions

c) results of surveys

d) witness testimonial (anecdote)

e) facts

f) research study findings

g) statistics

h) journal articles & reports

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Evaluating Key Features of an Argument

2a Evaluation of Evidence:
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of evidence with reference to the questions below.

- Is the source of information for the evidence given?

- Is the evidence current? Or was the evidence up to date at the time the text was written?
- Is the evidence formed on the basis of a range of data that can be considered
representative of a wider group?
- Is there sufficient information for how the evidence was acquired?

2b Flaws in the evidence

In groups, discuss any additional and more specific flaws that you can identify in the various pieces
of evidence. Take notes of your ideas below.

- ________________________________________________________________________

- ________________________________________________________________________

- ________________________________________________________________________

- ________________________________________________________________________

- ________________________________________________________________________

Complete the paragraph providing a more detailed analysis of the evidence with the appropriate
words and phrases listed below. Only 8 of the 12 options should be selected.

emotions the effect reason relevant

more capable representative the lungs personal beliefs
comparison healthier accurate the cause

The Rochborough Health Council Advisory Body’s clinical trials investigating children who played

outdoors for more than 50 days a year and children who mainly played indoors can be considered a

flawed 1____________________________. One reason for this is that the evaluation of children’s

health conditions is formed on the basis of information about only one factor related to

2______________________________. Moreover, the children who played outdoors may have

already been 3___________________________ than the children who played indoors; the health

status of the two groups of children may have been 4_____________________________ of the

finding rather than 5______________________________ of playing outdoors less often. The

number of the children studied is also not mentioned, and it is not clear if these children are truly

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6____________________________ of the town overall. Finally, the anecdote about Mr. Arkash’s

tearful son is aimed at appealing to the readers’ 7_____________________________, and the

mention of the isolated incident of a fox frightening the child is not

8___________________________ to the overall argument.

2c Unstated assumptions (from the writer)

Complete the sentences with appropriate beginnings or endings.

1 Playing outdoors is …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… when they play

outdoors more often.

3 Beneficial health effects are …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

4 ……………………………………………………………………………………………….............................................................

would enable their children to spend more time playing outside.

5 There are not enough ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6 …………………………………………………………………………………………….. to develop more outdoor play areas.

a …………………………………………………………………………………………………..…. supervised play areas in

Rochborough currently.

b …………………………………………………………………………………………………… only available from outdoor play.

c Rochborough parents believe that the development of more outdoor play areas

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………

d Additional funds are needed ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

e ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… better for all children’s health.

f The health of children who mainly play indoors improves ……………………………………………………………….

Classify the assumptions as reasonable, questionable or unreasonable.

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2d In small groups, discuss whether the author is objective or subject to bias. Give reasons for
your answer, and take notes of your ideas below.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2e Evaluating the overall argument

In small groups, discuss to what extent the text presents a convincing argument.
Consider the various features (both positive and negative) that you have identified and evaluated,
and give reasons for your answers, while also taking notes of your ideas below.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Rochborough Health
3a Add unstated assumptions, which will also function as missing premises, to the reading text below
in order to strengthen the quality of the overall argument.

Outdoor play has beneficial effects for children in terms of both their health and their levels of social

interaction.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

According to clinical trials carried out by Rochborough’s Health Council Advisory Body in September this

year, children who played outside for over fifty days in the year had a 20% higher lung capacity, and 30%

5
lower incidence of asthma and bronchial conditions than children who played indoors.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Children who played outdoors regularly also reported having more friends than those who played

indoors. …………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….......A survey

of 30 families by Rochborough Social Amenities Committee found that parents were more likely to let

their children play outdoors if they had their own gardens or if there were supervised play areas nearby.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..

Mr Arkash of Milton Road said his children did not feel safe playing on the Children’s meadow on the

outskirts of Rochborough, as his son had been frightened by a fox there in the past.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

His little son looked quite tearful as his father spoke.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………........

‘He often cries, because he has nowhere to play,’ said his father.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Supervised play areas can be expensive to provide.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

However, only 18% of homes in Rochborough have gardens.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Therefore, to improve the health of all its children, Rochborough needs to provide more supervised

outdoor play areas.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Rochborough Play council Newsletter

Glossary

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Anecdote (n) a form of evidence consisting of a personal account or retelling of events that took
place in the past (see witness testimonial)
Argument (n) the expression of a position or stance on an issue supported by reasons or a set of
reasons
Bias (n) an attitude or a judgment towards an issue based on opinion instead of fact, or with a
vested interest towards favouring one particular point of view
Case example a detailed analysis of a person or group, especially as a model of medical, psychiatric,
psychological, or social phenomena
Conclusion (n) a final statement or judgement made with the aim of convincing others of its truth
Convincing (adj) successful in persuading others to accept or agree with a viewpoint or stance
Evaluation (n) the forming of a judgement or assessment about the value, strength or achievement
of something
Evidence (n) the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is
true or valid
Fact (n) something that is known to have happened or to exist, especially something for which proof
exists; an idea or notion that is broadly accepted to be true (see purported)
Flawed (adj) having a clear weakness or imperfection
Journal articles academic texts and reports written on research projects into specific topics
Logical progression of ideas a well-reasoned ordering or sequencing of points of information
discussed in a spoken or written text
Objective (adj) not influenced by personal feelings, tendencies or outside forces; able to judge or
assess an issue or situation in a fair and balanced way
Purported (adj) appearing or stated to be true, though not necessarily so; alleged (see fact)
Premises (n) reasons or claims given in support of a viewpoint; a proposition upon which an
argument is based or from which a conclusion is drawn.
Questionable (adj) doubtful in terms of truth or validity; not certain, or possibly wrong in some way
Relevant (adj) closely connected or appropriate to an idea or topic that is being focused on
Research study a carefully planned and managed study that is done to find and report new
knowledge about a particular topic
Statistics (n) a fact or piece of data obtained from a study of a large quantity of numerical data
Survey (n) an investigation of the opinions or experiences of a group of people, based on a series of
questions, often in the form of a questionnaire
Unreasonable (adj) not guided by logic or sound judgment; inaccurate, not reflective of the truth
Unstated assumptions claims or beliefs accepted, supposed or implied as true by the author of an
argument, but not mentioned directly; hidden premises (and/or a missing conclusion)
Witness testimonial a form of evidence whereby an individual states their views regarding the
character or qualities of someone or something (see anecdote)

1a Conclusion Therefore, to improve the health of all its children, Rochborough needs to

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 provide more supervised outdoor play areas.
1b Main premise Outdoor play has beneficial effects for children in terms of both their health
and their levels of social interaction.
1c Logical 1c 2e 3b 4d 5a
progression of The ideas as listed do follow on logically, however the text features missing
ideas premises, and there are several instances where the text jumps abruptly to
an additional point without it being properly introduced or contextualized.
1d Types of evidence f) research study findings (s2-3) c) results of surveys (s4)
d) witness testimonial (s5-7) g) statistic (s9)
2b Flaws in the 1 comparison 2 the lungs 3 healthier 4 the cause 5 the effect
evidence 6 representative 7 emotions 8 relevant
2c Unstated 1 Playing outdoors is better for all children’s health. (questionable)
assumptions 2 The health of children who mainly play indoors improves when they play
outdoors more often. (questionable)
3 Beneficial health effects are only available from outdoor play areas.
(questionable)
4 Rochborough parents believe the development of more outdoor play areas
would enable their children to spend a greater amount of time playing
outside. (reasonable)
5 There are not enough supervised play areas in Rochborough currently.
(reasonable)
6 Additional funds are needed to develop more outdoor play areas.
(reasonable)
2d Author bias The author is subject to bias, as he/she is writing for the Rochborough play-
council newsletter, which is an organization that has a vested interest in
arguing for more play areas.
2e Evaluating the The writer makes a reasonable case and includes a clear premise and
overall argument conclusion, a logical progression of ideas and some supporting evidence.
However, much of this evidence is not clearly interpreted and/or used
suitably. There are numerous questionable unstated assumptions and
several more reasonable assumptions which would have improved the
quality of the argument if they had been included. There is also evidence of
author bias. Overall, the argument would likely not be successful in
convincing a critical reader of its conclusion.
3a Developing the The three reasonable unstated assumptions should be added to the text as
argument additional premises.
- Unstated assumption 4 should be added to the text after sentence 3
and before sentence 4.
- Unstated assumption 5 should be added to the text after sentence 4
and before sentence 5.
- Unstated assumption 6 should be added to the text after sentence 7
and before sentence 8.