Reading Texts Critically (Chapter 2)

Evaluate the text

This is the point where the other three techniques will be helpful. When you evaluate a text, you question the author's purpose and intentions

Critical Reading

involves scrutinizing any information that you read or hear. Critical reading means not easily believing information offered to you by a text.

Critical Reading

is an active process of discovery because when you read critically, you are not just receiving information but also making an interaction with the writer.

Simple Reading

refers to the act of identifying the basic meaning of a text being read. It includes knowing what the text is saying as well as the main ideas it imparts to the readers. Through simple reading, readers can understand the message conveyed by a text."

Critical Reading

refers to the more advanced form of reading. It includes recognizing the writer's purpose in writing, knowing the text, reflecting on what it does, and knowing more what the text means. Readers can analyze the pieces of evidence presented and discussed in the text.

Reading

It is a receptive skill because reading helps us receive information.

Reading

as being defined by English Club (2022) is a process of getting the meaning of the written symbols by looking at them.

Annotate what u read Outline the text Summarize the text Evaluate the text

4 Ways to become a Critical Reader

Summarize the text

Aside from outlining, you can also get the main points of the text you are reading and write its gist in your own words. This will test how much you have understood the text and will help you evaluate it critically. A summary is usually one paragraph long.

Outline the text

Identify the main points of the writer and list them down so you can also identify the dieas that the writer has raised to support his/her stand. You don't necessarily have to write a structured sentence or topic outline for this purpose; you can just write in bullet or in numbers.

Annotate what u read

One of the ways to interact with the writer is to write on the text. You can underline, circle or highlight words, phrases or sentences that contain important details or you can write marginal notes asking questions or commenting on the ideas of the writer.

1) The ability to pose problematic questions. 2) The ability to analyze a problem in all its dimensions- to define its key terms 3) The ability to find, gather and interpret data, facts and other information relevant to the problem. 4) The ability to imagine alternative solutions to the problem. 5) The ability to write an effective argument justifying your choice while acknowledging counter-arguments.

Requirements in Critical Reading by Ramage, Bean and Johnson (2006):

Critical Reading

The interaction happens when you question the writer's claims and assertions and when you comment on the writer's ideas.

Reading

We use our eyes to receive the symbols (information) and we use our brain in order to convert those symbols into words, sentences or paragraphs that will deliver the meaning/information to us.