Critical Reading – involves understanding the content of a text as well as how the subject matter is developed.

It takes in the
facts, but goes further.

 It is a skill that makes you evaluate the reading materials that you encounter to make judgments.
 It is the ability to make intelligent decisions or arrive at excellent conclusions.
 This type of reading goes beyond passively understanding a text.
 Reading critically means thinking critically.

Non- Critical Reading Critical Reading

Passive active
Just the facts What, how and why
Gullible skeptical
Reactive purposeful

Features of a Critical Reader

• open-minded and suspends judgment • Evaluates the author’s qualifications

until adequate data is available
• constantly questions reading content
• has a problem solving attitude
• Knowledgeable regarding the topic
• Discerns the author’s purpose
• Evaluates the validity of the material
• Evaluates the use of the propaganda
• Evaluates the author’s logic & use of
the language

Techniques to help develop critical reading skills:

• Keeping a reading journal • Summarizing the text
• Annotating the text • Questioning the text
• Outlining the text

How can you create activities to help you?

• Mark text: Use highlighters, pencils, pens • Write down what the text seems to achieve
• Make notes: use post-ts, notebooks, computers • List strategies in the text to achieve its goals
• Make a paragraph summary of the contents • Step back: How well does the text do, in the
reader’s opinion? Locate evidence tell why

Task driven critical Reading

• You have been told to read it in preparation for a class
• You are doing background reading on your subject, just to get your bearings
• It reports a particular approach or technique you want to see in action
• It addresses a particular question that you want to know the answer to
• You are looking for evidence to counter balance something else that you have read.
• You have a particular story to tell, and you need some supporting evidence for