Analysis Of How To Read Nonfiction Like A Professor By Thomas C. Foster

In order to fully comprehend a written work, one must learn to read critically; which in turn, requires learning to think critically. Critical thinking and reading are essential skills one must have to be successful in learning and growing to their fullest potential. Acquiring these skills allows you to think independently, dissect and evaluate the credibility of a work, and determine the relevancy of the information you are being presented. In his nonfiction work, How to Read Nonfiction Like a Professor, Thomas C. Foster explores this idea by giving examples of recent events in American journalism and providing thought provoking commentary on the bias featured in media. In the introduction, Foster discusses the importance of having more

Foster first explores Hillary Clinton’s use of the term in one of her speeches following her loss of presidential candidacy. Foster states that, “ Clinton gave a speech in which she said that the cascade of “fake news” (using the term in its accepted sense) was threatening our democracy. Many listeners and commentators took that to mean she believed she had lost the election because of fake news” (Foster 94). He then elaborates on the claims and allegations surrounding Clinton, specifically focusing on what “came to be known as Pizzagate” (Foster 94). The “Pizzagate Scandal” was mainly fueled by a baseless claim that came to be the product of the bandwagon effect. The people of the internet spread a rumor that a child sex trafficking ring was being held in a pizza parlor basement… albeit, said pizza parlor has no basement. Foster points out that the bandwagon mentality fueling this claim could all have been avoided if people actually thought for themselves. Everything that happened surrounding this allegation is the consequences of today’s public lacking general critical reading and thinking skills. Had those skills been present, the conflict and misinterpretation could have been avoided, as the “ many listeners and commentators” thought this was the “fake news” she was referring to (Foster 94). These people took that to mean her idea of “fake news” was simply news that she didn’t like. Furthermore, Mr. Foster presents Donald Trump’s use of the phrase to mean “‘that which displeases Trump’” (Foster 95). Previously, Foster mentions that all humans have bias, and try as we might, we cannot always remain neutral. Here Foster shows his bias by announcing his distaste for Trump and more rightwing-centered news companies. This in and of itself is hypocritical, as he presents all