Reading Critically to Think Critically to Write...

Critical analysis—understanding the assumptions, distinctions, interpretations, biases, arguments, and conclusions of a person or text and then testing them in order to draw you own conclusions.

Previewing

Get a general sense of a texts meaning. At the same time start asking questions in your mind.

1.      What does the title suggest?

2.      What does the table of contents promise?

3.      What can I learn from chapter titles and subheadings?

4.      Who is the author?

5.      How current is the information?

Once you decide you want to read further, you may want to read selected parts to see what they promise. Once you reach an understanding of this promise, you need to read more slowly and thoroughly. You need to begin the work of evaluating its:

·        ideas

·        assumptions

·        arguments

·        evidence

·        logic

·        coherence

Then you need to begin to develop your own interpretation of what the text is all about. You can best achieve this by responding, or “talking back” to the text in writing. This may take several forms depending on the nature of the text:

1.      Informational—try to identify the statements that summarize ideas or are repeated.

2.      argument—examine claims and consider evidence.

3.      literary (novel, play, poem, or essay) pay attention to images, metaphor and dialog.

In any text take special note of boldface or italicized words—they are so marked because the author believes they are important.