Critical Reading

Critical Reading
Critical Reading
?
Reading as a Dialog
All reading is an active,

reflective, problem-solving
process. We do not simply
read words; we read ideas,
thoughts that spring from the
relationships of various
assertions.
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Critical Reading
Dan Kurland's www.criticalreading.com
Non-critical reading
To non -critical readers, texts provide facts.
Critical reading
to recognize an authors purpose
to understand tone and persuasive elements
to recognize bias
facts + interpretation

Critical Reading
Non-critical reading is satisfied with recognizing what

a text says and restating the key remarks.
Critical reading goes two steps further.
Having recognized what a text says , it reflects on
what the text does by making such remarks.
Is it offering examples? Arguing?
Appealing for sympathy?
Making a contrast to clarify a point?
Finally, critical readers then infer what the text, as a
whole, means , based on the earlier analysis.

Critical Reading
What a text says restatement talks

about the same topic as the original text
What a text does description discusses
aspects of the discussion itself
What a text means interpretation
analyzes the text and asserts a meaning for
the text as a whole

Critical Reading
Restatement generally takes the form of a

summary, paraphrase, or prcis
when learning the definitions and concepts of a
new discipline,
when there is agreement on the facts of a
situation and their interpretation,
when a text is taken to offer a complete and
objective presentation, or
when the word of a specific author or source is
accepted as authoritative.
Critical Reading
Description
what topics are discussed?
what examples and evidence are used?
what conclusions are reached?
We want to recognize and describe how
evidence is marshalled to reach a final
position, rather than simply follow remarks
from sentence to sentence.

Critical Reading
Interpretation
This final level of reading infers an overall meaning.
We examine features running throughout the text to see

how the discussion shapes our perception of reality.
We examine what a text does to convey meaning:

how patterns of content and language shape the
portrayal of the topic and how relationships between
those patterns convey underlying meaning.

Critical Reading
Goals
to recognize an authors purpose
to understand tone and persuasive elements
to recognize bias

Critical Reading
Notice that none of these goals actually refers to

something on the page. Each requires inferences
from evidence within the text:
recognizing purpose involves inferring a basis for
choices of content and language
recognizing tone and persuasive elements
involves classifying the nature of language choices
recognizing bias involves classifying the nature of
patterns of choice of content and language

Critical Reading
Critical reading is not simply close and

careful reading.
To read critically, one must actively

recognize and analyze evidence upon the
page.

Critical Reading
what to look for ( analysis ) and

how to think about what you find ( inference )
The first part what to look for involves

recognizing those aspects of a discussion that
control the meaning.
The second part how to think about what you
find involves the processes of inference, the
interpretation of data from within the text.

Critical Reading
All reading is an active, reflective, problem-

solving process.
We do not simply read words; we read ideas,

thoughts that spring from the relationships of
various assertions.

Critical Reading
Writing
what we say (content),
how we say it (language), and
the flow from one assertion to another, how ideas
connect to one another to convey broader
meaning (structure).
Structure
Time narrative
Argument development (facts + assertions)

Critical Reading
IDEAS
providing appropriate and sufficient arguments
and examples?
choosing terms that are precise, appropriate, and
persuasive?
making clear the transitions from one thought to
another and assured the overall logic of the
presentation

Critical Reading
University of Toronto http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/critrdg.html
don't read looking only or primarily for

information
do read looking for ways of thinking about

the subject matter

Critical Reading
University of Toronto http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/critrdg.html
First determine the central claims or

purpose
Begin to make some judgements about
context
Distinguish the kinds of reasoning the text
employs
Examine the evidence
(the supporting facts, examples, etc)
Critical reading may involve evaluation.
Critical Reading
Pearson - http://occawlonline.pearsoned.com/bookbind/pubbooks/lardner_awl/chapter1/custom5/deluxe-
content.html
The Process: Reading & Annotating

Recall your purpose.
What are you looking for?
How will you use what you find? Identify the weave of the
text:
Double underline the authors explanation of the main
point(s) and jot "M.P." in the margin. (Often, but not
always, a writer will tell an engaged reader where the text is
going.)
Underline each major new claim that the author makes in
developing the text and write "claim 1," "claim 2," and so on
in the margin.

Critical Reading
content.html
Circle major point of transition from the obvious

(subtitles) to the less obvious (phrases like
however, on the other hand, for example, and so
on).
Asterisk major pieces of evidence like statistics
or stories or argument note in the margin the kind
of evidence and its purpose, for example, "story
that illustrates claim."
Write "concl." in the margin at points where the
writer draws major conclusions. Locate passages
and phrases that trigger reactions.
Critical Reading
content.html
Put a question mark next to points that are

unclear and note whether you need more
information or the author has been unclear or
whether the passage just sounds unreasonable or
out-of-place.
Put an exclamation point next to passages that
you react to strongly in agreement, disagreement,
or interest.
Attach a post-it note next to trigger passages
and write a brief reaction as you read.

What Next?
Building Models expectations

1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Experiment / Project
4. Results / Outcome Evaluation
5. Conclusion
References
Appendices

Structure
The main idea of a text

(the red thread) intro
I will show X survey
stated in the abstract
exp
stated in the introduction
supported by rest of the text result
reiterated in the conclusion
concl

Organisation - mindmaps
Related idea 2
Related idea 1
Main idea
Related idea 3 Related idea 4

Summary: Critical Reading
DIALOG recognizing purpose

facts + interpretation recognizing bias
What a text says ways of thinking
restatement evidence + evaluation
What a text does annotate texts
description models red thread
What a text means mindmapping
interpretation goal oriented
aware

Critical Reading

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Critical Reading

All reading is an active,

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Non-critical reading is satisfied with recognizing what

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What a text says restatement talks

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Restatement generally takes the form of a

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We examine features running throughout the text to see

We examine what a text does to convey meaning:

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to recognize an authors purpose

to understand tone and persuasive elements

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Notice that none of these goals actually refers to

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Critical reading is not simply close and

To read critically, one must actively

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what to look for ( analysis ) and

The first part what to look for involves

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All reading is an active, reflective, problem-

We do not simply read words; we read ideas,

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don't read looking only or primarily for

do read looking for ways of thinking about

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First determine the central claims or

The Process: Reading & Annotating

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Circle major point of transition from the obvious

Put a question mark next to points that are

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Building Models expectations

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The main idea of a text

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Related idea 3 Related idea 4

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DIALOG recognizing purpose

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