CRITICAL READING

as an Extension of Critical Thinking

What is critical reading?
Critical reading
 engaging yourself in a text or any
material that you are reading.

 engaging yourself about what the

author or writer is trying to tell you
in his or her writing

 being focused on the intention or

the argument being presented in the
material
Critical thinking
 ability to think clearly and
rationally

 ability to understand the

relation of ideas presented
 Characteristics of a critical
thinker:
1. Understands the relation of one idea to
another

2. Determines the importance and relevance of

ideas and arguments

3. Recognizes, builds and appraises arguments

4. Identifies inconsistencies and errors in

reasoning
 Characteristics of a critical
thinker:
5. Approaches problems in a consistent and
systematic way

6. Reflects on the justification of his own

assumptions, beliefs and values
CRITICAL READING
STRATEGIES
 Annotating

Underlining or highlighting the

important ideas or points in a text like
thesis statement, topic sentence,
supporting details, body of the
material and the conclusion.
 Contextual Reading

A reader studies the author of the text,

the time or period when the author
wrote it and the important events that
occurred during the time the text was
written.
 Outlining

Identifying the main and supporting

ideas of the text. This strategy reveals
the basic structure of the text,
therefore helping the reader analyze
the text better.
 Summarizing

Condensing or writing of a material in

the reader’s own words.
 Paraphrasing

Putting or writing a text in your own

words but maintaining the original
information as given by the author.
 Comparing
and
Contrasting

Naming the similarities and differences

of two or more ideas or information.
 Evaluating an
Argument
S/he determines if the evidence is
strong and valid. At the same time, she
recognizes any weak or negative points
that there are in the evidence or
argument.
 Reflecting on
Challenges to your
Beliefs and Values

In this strategy, the reading materials

affect your emotions.
 Looking for
Patterns of
Opposition
Some writers present opposing issues
or hints and these are what a critical
reader or thinker may use in his or her
analysis of the text.
 Judging the
Writer’s Credibility

You provide a series of questions to

check if the writer of the text is
credible enough to get your approval
of what s/he has written.
 Exploring the
Figurative Language

Language that uses words or

expressions with a meaning different
from the literal interpretation.
 Recognizing
Emotional Manipulation

In this strategy, the reader is suspicious

and cautious when the writer uses
emotionally loaded words, writes very
harsh and abusive things about or
against someone or something or
maligns or insults another.
SQ3R Method
S - Survey

Q - Question

R - Read

R - Recite

R - Review