Critical Paper #1 Prompt:
In what ways will developing your critical reading skills enhance your critical thinking
skills? Your response should take into account the levels of thinking (Bloom’s
Taxonomy) as well as approaches (Sponge/Panning for Gold) to critical reading/critical
thinking. Your response should also include examples drawn from your OWN 1)
personal 2) professional and 3) academic life. (50 points)
Further Directions to help you…
• You are writing a formal paper about how you use critical reading and critical
thinking in your everyday life. Write it in FIRST PERSON, using “I”. Consider
making it a 5 paragraph essay (or longer).
• You’ll want an introduction paragraph and also a conclusion paragraph. My
suggestion for your body paragraphs are how you use critical reading and thinking in
your:
o 1. Personal life (ex: relationships, free time, hobbies, etc) Maybe you have
two use critical reading to interpret text messages or you speak more thana
one language and communicate with your grandparents.
o 2. Professional life (ex: a past job, current job, or future career) Perhaps you
had to critically read all the menu ingredients if you are a server at a
restaurant. Additionally, maybe you used the sponge approach to memorize all
the ingredients.
o 3. Academic life (ex: specific examples from current or past
classes, assignments, projects, papers, exams, etc.) If you had to critically read
for a recent chapter in your Sociology class, tell me specifically about that. By
reading critically, what was the outcome of your reading and experience?
o Within your paper, tie in and write about 2 or 3 of Bloom’s levels
of thinking AND mention at least once how you use the sponge approach and
panning for gold approaches to critical reading in one of those areas of your
life. Fit these in anywhere in your paper! Weave in real life examples rather
than hypothetical ideas or general thoughts. This is about critical thinking and
critical reading in YOUR life. Be creative!
Critical Paper #1 Guidelines:
o The Critical Paper is considered a formal writing assignment. It must be typed and
double-spaced in a clear 12-point font.
o This first paper should be 2 – 3 pages in length.
o Your paper should have a title that is centered on the top line.
o Create a topic sentence. Underline your topic sentence.
o Indent the first line of each paragraph five spaces or about a half inch.
o Place the following heading in the upper left hand corner:
Critical Reading 150
Your Name
Critical Reading 150 Critical Reading 150
Section #
Critical Paper
Date
Critical Paper #1 Writing Tips:
o Read your Critical Paper response aloud to see if it makes sense, and to catch
mistakes in grammar, spelling and punctuation. Revisit the prompt. Did you
answer every part of the question and provide examples?
o Consider revisiting your textbook, class lecture notes and handouts to help and
inspire your response.
o Take advantage of the computers in the library. Always save your work on a flash
drive/memory stick, or email a working document to yourself. Don’t hesitate to
seek to receive help from the SCC Writing Center’s Online Resources.
o Please email or see me if you have any questions.
