… reading what a source is trying to say is the key to understanding a source well …
EdFN
Reading Textual Source
A textual source is basically any source that is written in words. Unlike a pictorial source, a textual source uses words to express its ideas and intentions. Examples of textual source include written documents, newspapers articles, journal articles, press release or statement and books. This is not an exhaustive list and almost any written source can be used as a textual source.
When you read a source, it is important to read for the broad ideas that the source wants to convey; rather than reading for every single detail in it. It is easy to be caught up in the details and not see the essence of the source. This will result in an 'information overload' as you end up with a lot of information but yet not know what the source is really trying to say.
A textual source is basically any source that is written in words. Unlike a pictorial source, a textual source uses words to express its ideas and intentions. Examples of textual source include written documents, newspapers articles, journal articles, press release or statement and books. This is not an exhaustive list and almost any written source can be used as a textual source.
When you read a source, it is important to read for the broad ideas that the source wants to convey; rather than reading for every single detail in it. It is easy to be caught up in the details and not see the essence of the source. This will result in an 'information overload' as you end up with a lot of information but yet not know what the source is really trying to say.
Read the illustration first before attempting the practice question:
Imagine Tom asked me to watch a movie with him and this was my response:
"The movie is too long. The air-con in the cinema theatre is too cold and the cinema is too far away. The actors and actresses are too lousy. The seats in the cinema are so uncomfortable and the cinema ticket is too expensive."
What do you think I was really trying to say to him? Whilst I've not stated it clearly in my response to him, it is quite obvious in my reaction to his request. Think about it for a while before you click the button below to reveal the answer.
Practice
Source A
Adapted from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally speech, delivered on the 26th August 2012.
Source A
Adapted from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally speech, delivered on the 26th August 2012.
In Asia, I expect many countries will continue to rise and especially the biggest ones - China and India. And they will compete against us in many business areas - manufacturing, services, R&D and in some areas they will surpass us and some parts of China and India will certainly surpass us. But at the same time, these big giants will offer many opportunities for Singaporeans. Their cities: Shanghai, Beijing, Mumbai, Bangalore will become even more vibrant and exciting places to live and work. For Singaporeans, it will be very pleasant too.
What was the Prime Minister trying to say actually? What was his main point? Even though there are 5 sentences in the source, it does not mean that the author wants to convey 5 ideas. Can you try to condense all the statements into 1 main idea?
- Reading a source for its main ideas is more important than just reading the details that form the source. Even though the main ideas and the details cannot be separated in reality as the ideas are derived from the details, reading for the main ideas is a more 'accurate' way of getting to understand the actual meaning of the source. You should not only be reading for the specific details. In short, you have to learn to read 'between the lines' and not just the lines themselves.
- Caution: Another common mistake that happens is when a single detail is mistaken to represent the entire source. This usually occurs when students do not evaluate the source enough and simply picks the most 'convenient' statement that they come across.
