Arguing With Published Criticism · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Testing a critic's argument

English · Reading Comprehension · ages 17-18
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which route treats a critic's view as an argument to test?

    • Read the claim, copy it, end the discussion
    • Read the claim, test it, revise your argument
    • Read the claim, reject it, ignore the evidence

  2. Before responding to a critic in your planning notes, what gives your investigation a focus?

    • A working claim of your own
    • A copied conclusion from the critic
    • A complete list of the critic's books

  3. A critic discusses the ending only. Paraphrasing that view as a claim about every chapter preserves its scope.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A paragraph argues that a narrator's praise is ironic. A critic reads the praise literally. How can the writer use that view?

    • Add the critic's biography without connecting it to irony
    • Quote the critic at length without examining the praise
    • Test the literal reading against the paragraph's evidence

  5. A critic claims every action of a hero is driven by greed. One scene supports this; two clearly show other motives. Which response fits that evidence?

    • Accept the whole claim and omit the other motives
    • Accept its fit to one scene and explain its limits
    • Reject the whole claim and omit the greed scene

  6. An accurately copied critical quotation still needs a source reference so readers can locate its context.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. An essay reports agreement with every critic it mentions but gives no textual reasons for that agreement. What is missing?

    • An explanation of why the critical claims hold
    • A rule requiring disagreement with every critic
    • A longer quotation from each critic mentioned

  8. Omar finds joyful words after quoting a critic who reads the poem as despairing throughout. What should he do before deciding that the critic's claim is too broad?

    • Remove the joyful words so his first reading stays intact
    • Treat any joyful word as proof that the whole poem is happy
    • Read the joyful words in context beside the despairing passages
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Testing a critic's argument W1-mt_RHkHphHUHO-s1

  1. Read the claim, test it, revise your argument · Testing the claim against the text lets the evidence shape your response.
  2. A working claim of your own · A working claim focuses the investigation. It can change when you test the evidence.
  3. False · A claim about the ending does not automatically cover every chapter. The paraphrase expands the critic's claim.
  4. Test the literal reading against the paragraph's evidence · The critical view belongs with the relevant argument and textual evidence, followed by the writer's response.
  5. Accept its fit to one scene and explain its limits · The evidence supports greed in one scene but challenges the claim about every action.
  6. True · Accurate wording preserves the quotation. A source reference helps readers locate it.
  7. An explanation of why the critical claims hold · Agreement can be argued. Here the missing part is the reasoning that connects the critical claims to the text.
  8. Read the joyful words in context beside the despairing passages · Joyful wording may express hope, memory or irony. Its context determines whether it limits the critic's claim.
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