Reading: Critical Reading & Analysis
B2 Lesson 2: Evaluating the Strength and Validity of Arguments
Before You Read 🧠
Key Vocabulary
Understanding these concepts is essential for critical reading.
The Critical Reader's Checklist ✅
A smart reader doesn't just accept a claim; they analyze the evidence. When you read an argument, ask yourself these questions:
- Is the evidence RELEVANT? (Does it directly relate to the main point?)
- Is the evidence SUFFICIENT? (Is there enough evidence to be convincing?)
- Is the source CREDIBLE? (Does it come from an expert or official data?)
Argument Analysis: Weak vs. Strong
"The plan to build the new 'Kampot Riviera' hotel is a terrible idea. My friend visited a different city where they built a big hotel, and he said the traffic became awful. I also just think that tall buildings are ugly and don't belong here. Therefore, this project will definitely ruin Kampot and must be stopped."
- Evidence is from a "friend" in a "different city" (not relevant or credible).
- "Tall buildings are ugly" is an opinion, not evidence.
- The conclusion is an overgeneralization (insufficient evidence).
"While the proposed 'Kampot Riviera' hotel could bring jobs, the project requires careful consideration due to potential negative impacts. A recent environmental impact assessment from the Royal University of Phnom Penh concluded that construction could threaten local fish breeding grounds. Furthermore, a traffic study from the Ministry of Public Works projects a 30% increase in vehicle traffic on already congested roads."
- The evidence is highly relevant to the main point.
- The author uses multiple pieces of evidence.
- The sources are credible (a university study, a government report).
Practice What You Learned 🎯
Quiz: Evaluate the Argument
Read the argument and evaluate its strength:
"Nobody in Cambodia should own a cat. My cousin owns a cat and he told me that it scratches his furniture all the time."
Why is this a WEAK argument?
- A. The author uses too many facts and statistics.
- B. The author uses a credible source, their cousin.
- C. The author makes a huge overgeneralization based on one person's experience.
→ Answer: C. The experience of one person's cat is not sufficient evidence to make a rule for an entire country. This is a classic overgeneralization.
Key Vocabulary Reference
- To Evaluate To judge the quality or value of something based on a careful analysis.
- Strength (of an argument) How convincing and well-supported an argument is.
- Validity The quality of an argument being logical and based on sound reasoning.
- Credible Source A source of information that is expert, trustworthy, and reliable.
- Overgeneralization A logical error where a conclusion about a large group is drawn from insufficient evidence.
Your Reading Mission ⭐
Evaluate a Real Argument!
Find an opinion article or a comment on a social media post about a topic you are interested in.
- What is the author's main claim?
- What evidence do they provide?
- Evaluate the evidence using the checklist: Is it relevant, sufficient, and credible? Explain your evaluation in one or two sentences.