Solidify Key Terms
of Interpretive/Reflective Response (3-5 minutes)
Key
terms that you will need to solidify with your students for the
Interpretive/Reflective Response are "assumptions" and
"implications." It's a good idea to let students
know that the following definitions are how we will be using these
terms in class but that they might be used differently in other
contexts/writing situations.
Assumption-
an assumption is what a person believes to be true. However, assumptions
are not always true; they are not shared by everyone or supported
by unquestionable evidence. Writers make different assumptions
based on their background and experience. Subsequently, assumptions
inform a writer's argument. If you look closely at a writer's
use of language, tone, and evidence you can sense the assumptions
a writer is making about their topic and their audience (their
beliefs, their values, and their expectations).
Implication-
an implication is a suggestion that is not directly stated. Writers
may imply something when they are hesitant to write a bold statement
or reluctant to make unsupported claims (for example, a writer
may not state that the Vice President is too old to be in office
or that Americans are careless and greedy, since this could be
viewed as inappropriate or offensive to a reader. But the argument
may suggest this none the less). This type of implication is usually
driven by the writer's opinions, so it tends to be hidden "between
the lines." In order to fully understand an argument, you'll
want to locate the implications a writer's argument makes.
Implications
can also be the logical ramifications of an argument that the
writer may or may not be aware of. For example, one of the implications
of making abortion illegal is that back alley abortions would
increase and the fatality rate, due to botched abortions, would
rise. One way to look for this kind of implication in an argument
is to ask, "What does this argument suggest is happening
or could happen in the future? Does the argument hint at an escalating
problem? Does it suggest anything in the way of "effects" or what
could result if a particular action is taken? |