I.5. Critical reading
For the critical reading exercise you are given two articles, which you will read and reflect on with the help of questions provided for you.
“Poisoned Roma Await Justice” (http://prishtinainsight.com/poisoned-roma-kosovo-await-justice-un-mag/)
”Roma Poisoned at U.N. Camps in Kosovo May get Apology and Compensation” (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/08/world/europe/roma-poisoned-at-un-camps-in-kosovo-may-get-apology-and-compensation.html?_r=0)
As you read keep notes on the following questions:
- Who are the people in the story and how are people being described?
- What are the events in the story and how are they ordered?
- Sources used in the article, i.e. people interviewed, person or publication providing information
- Evidence provided, i.e. information, data, facts provided
- Different positions articulated, i.e. what are the different sources and evidence saying
Asking questions
A central part of critical thinking and writing is to learn how to identify and understand the rationale, evidence, questions, viewpoints and perspectives in a given text or material. The questions sets provided below can help you identify each of these. You can answer the questions individually or by working in groups.
Answer the questions below by referring to the notes you took while reading the article. Writes down your answers in bullet points. Take 15 minutes to deliberate amongst yourselves if working in groups. You can then also compare your answers.
For Set 2 below imagine that someone is asking you questions about the responses you provided to Set 1 questions. For example, the first question asks: “how did you come to this conclusion…?” You need to identify information in the article, or otherwise, that supports your conclusions.
