READING STRATEGY: Questioning for Critical Thinking

Through the process of critical reading, we identify key concepts, assertions, and relevant
support presented by the authors. The next step is to think as deeply and as critically as you can
about these topics. In this way, you can discover/refine your own point of view in relation to the
views of others. Strategic questioning is an effective strategy to this end.

Question Stems
An effective question for critical thinking will be focused enough to help think about specific
ideas and concepts, yet at the same time broad enough to elicit a range of responses. An
effective question will be open-ended, not "yes/no." Question stems help readers and writers
develop effective questions meeting these criteria.

Questions that help DEFINE

What is the meaning of _______________?
What are the various features of _________________?
When is the meaning of ________________ misunderstood?

Questions that help understand VARIATION

How is __________________ changing?
What are the different varieties/types of ___________________?

Questions that help COMPARE AND CONTRAST

What is the difference between ______________ and _______________?
What are the similarities between ______________and _________________?

Questions that help understand CAUSE AND EFFECT

What causes ________________?
What is the effect of _____________ (on _____________)?
What is the purpose of ____________________?
What are the consequences of ________________?

Questions that help understand CIRCUMSTANCE OR CONDITION

What qualities, conditions, or circumstances make _______________possible or
impossible?
What would it take for _________________ to happen?
What would prevent __________________ from happening?

Questions that understand RELEVANCE OR VALUE

What is the significance of ____________________?
What is the value of ___________________?
What case can be made for or against ___________________?

Questions that help define and solve PROBLEMS

What is the problem of __________________?
What are possible solutions for the problem of ________________?
 * * * * *
For example, suppose you are reading and thinking about the overall topic of Media and
Democracy. Through the critical reading process, you notice that within the range of readings,
several authors discuss a concept/topic of FREE SPEECH. Using the question stems above, you
can develop a range of questions that consider the topic from a range of angles, with each
building on the other. For example:

What are the different varieties/types of free speech?

What are the various features of free speech?
What are some examples Ive observed of free speech?
What is the purpose of free speech?
What is the value of free speech ?
What qualities, conditions, or circumstances make free speech possible or impossible?
What are the consequences of free speech on national security? on politicians? on
citizens?
What case can be made against unfettered speech?

As you can see, the concepts serve as a means to focus the questions, but the question stems
may be expanded and narrowed as needed to explore the topic broadly or with specificity.
Notice also how these questions can also follow the process of stasis theory: something is
happening, the nature of the thing, the quality of the thing, what should/should not be done.