Transcript Critical reading - Issaquah Connect

An Introduction to
Critical Reading
What is “critical reading?”
 Preface – “Critical” is not intended to have a
negative meaning in the context of “critical
reading.”
 Definition: 1. expressing adverse or disapproving
comments or judgments.
 2. expressing or involving an understanding and
analysis of a work of literature, music, or art.
 synonyms:
evaluative, analytical,
interpretative, expository, explanatory
Passive vs. Active Reading
 Passive Reading: - (4 traits)
 1. Largely inactive process.
 2. Low motivation to examine the text critically or
at an in-depth level.
 3. Important pieces of data and assumptions may be
glossed over and missed.
 4. Data and assumptions that are perceived by the
passive reader are accepted at face value or are
examined superficially, with little thought.
Passive vs. Active Reading
• Active Reading: - Active reading involves
interacting with the text and therefore requires
significantly more energy than passive reading.
• Critical reading ALWAYS involves active
reading. The active reader invests sufficient effort
to understand the text and its key parts.
Our rules
 Take your time
 Have a phone or computer nearby to look
things up
 If you don’t understand something, take
more time on it
 Be able to explain why you did what you did
Step #1
 Scan the title, date, headlines, bold words,
etc for clues on the subject
 Read the article without making any marks
on it. See what you understand, what you
don’t, and where you should focus your
critical efforts.
Step #2
 Read a second time
 Make notes in the margins
 Look up any words, events, places, or concepts that
you do not understand.
 Highlight or underline especially important
passages
Step #3
 Re-read the material one more time now
that you have full context and
understanding of the meaning of all words,
events, places, and concepts.