You will select sources and read them in different ways depending on their value to your assignment. For example, you might read to: Show
The last approach is particularly important for any work you submit for assessment. You should ask yourself:
Select what and how to readUsually, you can't read all the texts you find on a topic, or even everything suggested on a long reading list. You need to make choices and be selective. Opt for quality and not quantity, and choose reliable and current sources. We also recommend that you start with an easy text to give you an overview of the topic. You could choose one of four main reading strategies. These are:
When reading and analysing a source closely, use our set of critical thinking questions (PDF) to help you engage critically. Spreeder is an online tool useful for skim-reading text whilst still gaining an understanding of the context. You can adjust the number of words presented and reading speed of your text, helping you to improve your reading speed. One of the first strategies to begin with is annotating a text. When you annotate, you underline important parts of the text, such as the thesis statement, topic sentences of body paragraphs and explanatory material. Annotating may also include circling key words and writing comments or questions you have about the material in the margins. This is also a very good way to mark material that needs to be studied for exams. See pages 6 and 72-89 in The Presence of Others. 2. Contextualizing.When you contextualize a text, you place it within its original historical or cultural context. As a reader you should try to identify this context and consider how this context differs from your own. In order to do this, you need to consider the following: 3. Reflecting on challenges to your beliefs and values.Sometimes our beliefs about an issue are difficult to express because they are so ingrained. In order to discover these beliefs it is important to explore how a text challenges you. Does it make you feel disturbed, threatened, ashamed, or inspired? Many of you may have a strong reaction to some of the essays you read. This reaction is a good example of an occasion when this type of reading strategy can be used. In order to do this, you might try the following: 4. Paraphrasing.When you paraphrase a text, you put it into your own words. This can be helpful in understanding a difficult or ambiguous passage. It is also one of the three ways to incorporate other people�s ideas into your own. The other two are quoting directly and summarizing. Unlike a summary, a paraphrase contains all of the original information. The purpose of a paraphrase is to simplify without changing any information. You are not changing what is said, but how it is said. See The Bedford Handbook, pages 561-562. 5. Outlining.This can be used as a preliminary to summarizing. Outlining allows you to identify the basic structure of a text and the main ideas of the text. In an outline you are listing the main ideas and supporting evidence of a text. It is especially important to be able to distinguish between the two. Use your own words when outlining a text. See The Bedford Handbook, page 483. 6. Summarizing.Summarizing creates a new text by synthesizing the material of the original. After outlining the text, the information is put together again in your own words. Summarization fosters understanding of the text, as you need to be able to recreate the meaning of the text in your own words. See The Bedford Handbook, page 561. 7. Exploring the figurative language.Similes, metaphors and symbols are all examples of figurative language. This type of language helps writers illustrate their points and get the type of reaction they want from the reader. 8. Looking for patterns of opposition.A writer may anticipate opposition to his or her views by responding to them in some way. A writer may also have conflicting views about the issues that are presented in the text. When considering oppositions you might think of opposites like, yes, no; black, white; etc. Writers will often present an argument by favoring one side of opposing terms. In order to look for patterns of opposition you might do the following: 9. Evaluating the logic of an argument.The two parts of an argument are claim and support. The claim is what the writer wants the reader to accept. That is, the claim is the idea, opinion, or point of view of the writer. The support is the reasons and evidence that becomes the basis for that claim. Arguments must pass the ABC test. That is the argument must be, To test for believability you will apply other fallacies that relate to reasoning, such as begging the question, generalizations and failing to accept the burden of proof. In testing for consistency you are checking to make sure there are no contradictory statements. See The Bedford Handbook, pages 506-517. 10. Recognizing emotional manipulation.Writers are guilty of improper emotional manipulation when they use false or exaggerated appeals. When a writer acts as an alarmist, uses emotionally loaded words, like racist, or tries to vilify the opposition, you, as reader, should be suspicious. Some of the following are fallacies of emotional appeal. 11. Judging the writer�s credibility.There are three ways that writers establish their credibility. 12. Analyzing the writing in other disciplines.Other disciplines have traditional ways of writing about their subjects. As a critical reader, you need to be aware of these differences. *This material was adapted by Beth Gilmartin, a former writing instructor at Seton Hall, from "A Catalog of Critical Reading Strategies" in Rise B. Axelrod and Charles R. Cooper, Reading Critically, Writing Well: A Reader and Guide, Fifth Ed., New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 1999. What are examples of critical reading?For example, you might read to:. get a general overview of the text by skimming through it.. look for specific information or to understand some core concepts by scanning the text.. What are 5 critical readings?Five critical reading skills were found to be very important for improvement:. Phonemic awareness.. Phonics.. Fluency.. Vocabulary.. Comprehension.. What are the 4 critical reading skills?What Are Critical Reading Skills?. Being selective.. Knowing how to skim and scan.. Reading actively.. Taking notes.. Revising.. What are the three 3 critical reading strategies?There are three different techniques for reading: Scanning — looking over material quite quickly in order to pick out specific information; Skimming — reading something fairly quickly to get the general idea; Close reading — reading something in detail.
|