READING LITERATURE: REAL READING

CRITICAL READING: It is real reading. It is a kind of process in reading that has to

fulfill certain requirements. It has to do with our metacognition. First, we have to
recognize the author´s purpose to understand the tone and the persuasive. The whole
process in order to be a critical reader

The text can be divided in three parts: What the text says: a repetition of the context
on your own words. What the text does: what kind of text it is, what the text reflects.
What the text means: the interpretation, reading between lines, so you have to infer
what the text means. This is and individual work, because all this happens in our
minds.

The analysis is made by the reader. It takes time, you go beyond the text, and you ask
yourself some questions. While you are doing the analysis you take into account your
experiences, and background knowledge.

CRITICAL ESSAY: It is an analysis of a text such as a book, an article, a file or a

printing. The goal of this type of analysis is the interpretation of some aspects of a
text or to situate the text in a broader context. Usually the essay is split or divided into
pieces to be analyzed or interpreted. E.g. a critical analysis of a book might focus on
the tone of the text. It can also be focused on the significance of a symbol which may
include and argumentative thesis about the text and plenty of textual evidence
sources to help support your interpretation of the text. Analysis means to break
down and study the parts for instance the description itself, the plot, the resolution,
the social and political background of the novel.

THE PROCESS OF DOING A CRITICAL ESSAY

1. Underline the main ideas.

2. While you read take notes that can help you to remember important aspects of
the text, it can also help you to think critically.
3. Write down your questions.
4. Review your notes to identify patterns and problems.
5. Paraphrase your notes, paraphrase your own interpretations.
6. Find secondary sources. It requires do some research.
7. Evaluate your sources to determine their credibility.
8. Highlight phrases that support your arguments.
9. Present an argument that you can back up (support) with evidence.
TONE: The tone of a literary work is the perspective or attitude that the author adopts
with regards to a specific character, place, or development itself. Tone can portray a
variety of emotions which helps the reader to agree or disagree with the writers
feelings towards a particular topic and this in turn influences the readers
understanding of the story.