Fall Week 3

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 The microbiome group still hasn't started yet, so I thought I would share something useful I am learning in another class, ENH255: Contemporary US Literature and Film. Currently we are covering the Close Reading Interpretation Tool, "CRIT", which helps to better understand what we are reading. For the microbiome group I will be reading many articles, and may find this tool useful. Here are the steps involved:

1) Paraphrase: Look for the overall meaning and purpose of the passage.

2) Observe: Look a things such as language style and form (Are they using scientific terms? Are the lines structured like a poem?) What new things does this tell you about the author and what they are trying to convey? (This is a good time to take notes on the passage)

3) Contextualize: What are the outside influences on the passage? When or where does it take place? What technology was available at the time? What are the widely accepted beliefs of that time or place?

4) Analyze: Review steps 2 and 3 and explain how they are significant to the passage. "This took place in the 1700's, where antibiotics were not yet available, explaining why a different method of treatment was used instead."

5) Argue: Write a paragraph giving your own interpretation of the passage, using the previous steps to support your claim.

6) Reflect: What is my argument missing? What parts are weakly supported? What do I need to look more closely at?

This method helps us to gather information better with the first steps, illuminating critical elements the author did not directly point out. The final steps allow us to understand what we know and what we don't know. "Where can I improve?" Some parts of this method can be used with other formats, such as verbal communication, to help ensure we don't miss critical information from the sender.

Most of this information was gathered from the following YouTube video:



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