Reading skills: Not so clever country?

Reading skills: Not so clever country?SkimmingA) in a newspaperB) opinion ( check the top right corner)C) Government funding of educationD) againstE) It can help the reader anticipate some of the ideas or arguments the writer might use and why. It should also signal to the reader to read critically.RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam2Reading the articleAs you read:Focus on the vocabulary you do know rather than the vocab that you dont know! Why?What you dont know cant help you!

Circle content words that are repeated. These will lead you to main ideas and comprehension.

Leave unknown vocabulary until later.RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam34Part 1 Vocabulary Building

not considering the possible effects in the future of something that seems good now - used to show disapproval (adj) paragraph 1

short-sighted

the most recent or the newest (adj) paragraph 2

latest

show that a particular situation exists, or that something is likely to be true (reporting verb) paragraph 3Indicate

Unusually good and special/ the only one of its kind (adj) paragraph 4

unique

RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam5serious and worrying (of a situation) (adj) paragraph 5

criticalconnected in some way (verb + preposition) paragraph 6

related to

RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam6Part 2 - Short answer questions

The government collects taxes which can be spent on what? National public infrastructure projects (such as schools, hospitals and roads)

The University of Houston has created how many jobs?24,000

RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam7What types of skills do employers value highly?Well-developed thinking skillsWhat is one consequence of a shortage of doctors?Long hospital waiting listsWhat lifestyle habits contribute to a longer life expectancy?More exercise and healthier diets

RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam8Part 3 Read to identify arguments in a text

Fewer high school graduates will continue their education if tuition fees are not subsidised.True - Cutting funds for universities leads to higher fees and, therefore, fewer students.At university, students learn how to look after themselves and develop skills for healthy living. Not given Graduates are usually healthier but there is nothing in the text about why. Jacobs is probably referring to a correlation between health and education level which is more to do with socioeconomic status than a direct result of gaining a degree.The government should increase their subsidies for students studying medicine, education and engineering.False the government should (continue to) subsidise the cost of all degrees nothing in the text about increasing subsidies, only that cuts should be avoided.

RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam9Every university graduate earns more than every high school leaver.False on average graduates earn moreGaining a tertiary level education is one of the best ways to develop analytical skills.True unique thinking skills are developed through academic study the higher the level of study, the more development of skillsHaving a large student population brings many benefits to a university town, such as improving the local environment and the infrastructure.Not given There is no reference to many benefits.any city would welcome such a university with open arms, simply because of the economic benefits. Perhaps economic benefits would lead to improvements in infrastructure and even the local environment, but this is not stated in the text

RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam10In the past, thinking skills were less important than they are now.True The world we live in today is more complex than ever before and thinking skills are now essential for all areas of life.University education should be free.True Our government should make university education free for everyone. Paragraph 1False Making a university education affordable encourages every high school leaver to continue into academic studies. Paragraph 7These answers obviously contradict. The tone of the article seems to be that education should be subsidised rather than entirely free. Jacobs seems to be arguing for maintaining the status quo, i.e. the government should not cut funding, rather than the govt should actually increase funding. It is left to the reader to infer that the article is addressing the Australian funding system where university education is not entirely free.

RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam11Argument 1There are broad economic reasons to question the wisdom of the governments decision. It seems that the government has forgotten that university graduates earn more money than high school leavers and, therefore, pay higher taxes. According to the latest Gibbons report, an average high school graduate will pay $6,700 a year in tax while someone with a degree will provide the government with $11,900, on average. Doctors, teachers and engineers can expect to pay a whopping $26,700 annually. Thats a lot of money for the government. This revenue can be used to pay for national public infrastructure projects, such as schools, hospitals and roads. The more graduates there are, the more revenue for the government. There is no doubt, therefore, that we have to subsidise the education of university students. RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam12Argument 1There are broad economic reasons to question the wisdom of the governments decision. It seems that the government has forgotten that university graduates earn more money than high school leavers and, therefore, pay higher taxes. According to the latest Gibbons report, an average high school graduate will pay $6,700 a year in tax while someone with a degree will provide the government with $11,900, on average. Doctors, teachers and engineers can expect to pay a whopping $26,700 annually. Thats a lot of money for the government. This revenue can be used to pay for national public infrastructure projects, such as schools, hospitals and roads. The more graduates there are, the more revenue for the government. There is no doubt, therefore, that we have to subsidise the education of university students. RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam13Argument 2We also need to consider the important effect universities have at a local level. Make no mistake, towns and cities up and down the country are more than happy when new universities open or when existing ones expand. Take, for instance, the University of Houston in the US, which has an annual enrolment of around 37,000 students. Research indicates that such a large student body generates an additional $1.1 billion per year for the Houston economy. Furthermore, some 24,000 jobs are directly related to the university and its students. In short, any city would welcome such a university with open arms, simply because of the economic benefits. RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam14Argument 2We also need to consider the important effect universities have at a local level. Make no mistake, towns and cities up and down the country are more than happy when new universities open or when existing ones expand. Take, for instance, the University of Houston in the US, which has an annual enrolment of around 37,000 students. Research indicates that such a large student body generates an additional $1.1 billion per year for the Houston economy. Furthermore, some 24,000 jobs are directly related to the university and its students. In short, any city would welcome such a university with open arms, simply because of the economic benefits. RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam15Argument 3University graduates benefit society in many ways. The unique thinking skills that are developed through academic study bring great benefits to the individual and to society as a whole. The world we live in today is more complex than ever before and thinking skills are now essential for all areas of life. Graduates are able to analyse situations, think logically, evaluate and solve problems. They are thus better equipped to deal with life. In the employment market, companies constantly need workers with well-developed thinking abilities. Society needs graduates to provide leadership as we face the challenges of the future.RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam16Argument 3University graduates benefit society in many ways. The unique thinking skills that are developed through academic study bring great benefits to the individual and to society as a whole. The world we live in today is more complex than ever before and thinking skills are now essential for all areas of life. Graduates are able to analyse situations, think logically, evaluate and solve problems. They are thus better equipped to deal with life. In the employment market, companies constantly need workers with well-developed thinking abilities. Society needs graduates to provide leadership as we face the challenges of the future.RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam17Argument 4Society benefits from the special skills that many of our graduates have. Think of all the doctors and teachers and how much they contribute to society. However, everyone knows that we have a critical shortage of high-quality professionals in the medical, education and engineering fields. Hospital waiting lists are out of control because we dont have enough doctors. The quality of our childrens education is falling because there are too few teachers. Would you want your childs education to be negatively affected because class sizes are too large? Engineering companies have to recruit people from overseas. If the government is unwilling to subsidise university education, we will never have enough graduates to meet the needs of our society. RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam18Argument 4Society benefits from the special skills that many of our graduates have. Think of all the doctors and teachers and how much they contribute to society. However, everyone knows that we have a critical shortage of high-quality professionals in the medical, education and engineering fields. Hospital waiting lists are out of control because we dont have enough doctors. The quality of our childrens education is falling because there are too few teachers. Would you want your childs education to be negatively affected because class sizes are too large? Engineering companies have to recruit people from overseas. If the government is unwilling to subsidise university education, we will never have enough graduates to meet the needs of our society. RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam19Argument 5Degree holders also bring benefits to society in ways that might surprise you. Research indicates that university graduates are healthier than the rest of the population. They exercise more, their diets are healthier and, as a result, they live longer. The benefits to society are obvious. Degree holders visit their doctor far less often than other people. They spend less time in hospital and need less care as they get older. Another social benefit of higher education is related to crime. Research all over the world shows that if you dont have a degree, you are four times more likely to go to prison. The causes of crime are complex, but it is clear that if you have a degree, you are less likely go to prison. RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam20Argument 5Degree holders also bring benefits to society in ways that might surprise you. Research indicates that university graduates are healthier than the rest of the population. They exercise more, their diets are healthier and, as a result, they live longer. The benefits to society are obvious. Degree holders visit their doctor far less often than other people. They spend less time in hospital and need less care as they get older. Another social benefit of higher education is related to crime. Research all over the world shows that if you dont have a degree, you are four times more likely to go to prison. The causes of crime are complex, but it is clear that if you have a degree, you are less likely go to prison. RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam21Main Idea: Governments should fund uni. ed. because graduates bring benefits to society and economy

1) uni. grads. earn more and pay more taxes2) unis stimulate the local economy by bringing demand for local goods and services and creating jobs3) Grads develop unique thinking skills that benefit society4) Many grads directly contribute to society in professions like teaching and medicine5) uni grads bring unexpected social benefits by living longer, being healthier, and committing less crime which reduce cost and burden on societyRMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam22Critical thinking: What kind of questions do we need to ask ourselves?L________LogicF____ and O______Fact and OpinionE_________EvidenceP_____________PerspectivesC______________ConsequencesRMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam23In your group:Use critical thinking questions to analyze the argumentWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of your argument?There may or may not be both strengths and weaknesses. Ask as many questions as you can.Put your ideas on the butchers paper.

You will present your ideas to the class.RMIT University9/12/2014RMIT International University Vietnam24