critical reading
Evaluating written arguments
Critical reading is engaging with a text analytically rather than passively accepting its claims.
Where ordinary reading asks "what does this say?" critical reading asks "is this true? what's being assumed? what's left out?" The practice involves evaluating evidence, identifying bias, and questioning the author's reasoning: The course emphasized critical reading of primary sources.
Critical reading treats texts as arguments to be examined rather than information to be absorbed.
- comprehensionMental understanding of meaning
- main ideaCentral concept conveyed
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
- fact checkingConfirming accuracy of statements
- supporting evidenceFacts validating a claim
inference · author's purpose · interpretation · argumentation · media literacy · subtext · historical context · nuance · logical reasoning · textual analysis · literary analysis · note · intertextuality · rhetorical analysis · ethical considerations · metacognition · persuasive writing · synthesis
- interpretationinterpretive dance, translation, interpreting, translating, construing
- reading activitiesbrowsing, rereading, audiobooks
- reading assessmentcomprehension test, diagnostic test, benchmark test, fluency, decoding
- language artsgrammar rules, vocabulary building, phonics, spelling bees, writing prompts
- reading skillsvocabulary, literacy skills, decoding, grammar, fluency
- reasoningreasoning, reason, logic, inference, deductive
critical readingskimming
Passing lightly over
scanning · browsing · speed reading · leisure reading · recreational reading