The Circle of Learning

Learners will demonstrate critical thinking about fiction and non-fiction texts and documents to use for self-expression and public discussion.

Identify inferred meaning in text.
Identify the difference between fact and opinion.
Cross-reference information from several sources to verify facts.
Determine the usefulness of information found in fiction, non-fiction, and documents.
Identify gaps in information found, and gather additional information if needed.
Recognize and explain how your own assumptions and biases influence your interpretation of a reading selection.
Form and state opinions from ideas presented in various written materials.

Examples of applying this learning outcome outside the learning environment:
Family	Community	Work
Read two different versions of the same myth or legend with a child. Help the child identify the differences between the two versions.	Read an editorial in your community newsletter about a recent event. What parts of the editorial are fact and what parts are opinion?	Read past workplace safety reports in order to deal with any real or potential hazards in your workplace. Estimate the degree of likelihood that these problems will occur while you are at work.

Learners will read short fiction and non-fiction texts and documents for enjoyment and practical purposes.

Read for personal enjoyment.
Read for research purposes.
- Use a dictionary, thesaurus, or other reference sources as needed (e.g., CD-ROM, Internet, encyclopedia, maps).
- Use basic conventions of formal texts to locate and interpret information (e.g., titles, headings, illustrations, glossary, tables of contents, indexes).
Read to find information for problem-solving.
Read non-print documents for information (e.g., equipment gauges, clocks, flags).
Read simple charts, diagrams, and schematics to obtain information for decision making and problem-solving (e.g., flow charts, organizational charts, tables, graphs, sequenced illustrations, three-dimensional drawings).
Read a variety of more complex documents with multiple pieces of information and several sections.
Locate many pieces of information from various documents.
Locate information in one document to search for information in another document (e.g., find the description of an auto part in the car owner's manual to help find the repair page in an auto repair manual).
Compare or contrast information found in various simple or complex documents.
Select evidence from written material to form conclusions and make judgments.