Mastering Critical Reading
Critical reading goes beyond the ability to read and comprehend, it also engages the reader in thinking, questioning and interpreting a meaning that is not obvious. When learners of English acquire such critical reading skills, they are able to comprehend the message of the writer, the situation behind the story and the difference between the opinion and the fact of the matter. Critical reading helps to improve comprehension, provides means of analysis and broadens out the mind to allow other views. For learners of English, developing such skills also facilitates breaking through barriers in reading other forms of work like articles, essays, and literary texts which are often intricate.Reading with a Critical Perspective
To practise critical reading, one must adopt a different focus before every particular text, and that focus is one of inquiry. Instead of taking everything at face value or for what it appears, the reader must consider the reasons behind the words and evidence produced. Start by asking yourself such questions as, what did the author intend to achieve with this piece of writing? Who is the piece meant for? What is the text as a whole seeking to achieve?Understanding these questions assists in the realisation of the author's purpose and prepares the mind to read with a sense of purpose.
Reading with curiosity promotes the ability to engage more fully. For example, when an author makes a claim, probe for information – Who makes the argument? Would it be someone relying only on a couple of facts or perhaps using emotional appeals?' This type of engagement with a text is essentially practising critical thinking and perspective taking, which is what critical reading is all about.
Identifying Main Ideas and Supporting Details
A rigorous reading process begins with focusing on the main ideas and the supporting details. The main idea is what the author wishes to express whilst supporting details include evidence or examples given to help that main idea. The reason these components are important is that they assist you in understanding how the arguments are formed and whether they are or are not well formed.While reading, attempt to mentally reconstruct the main point of every paragraph in your own words. Such an exercise compels you to process the information and decide what to do for every single part's value. Also check if the author substantiates each of the claims with adequate evidence, and approximately whether these details concentrate on the central focus of the discussion. In case you are in doubt, it could indicate a failure in the author's logic, which might be interesting to think about.
Recognizing Tone and Bias
The tone of a work of writing is the author's general attitude towards the subject, which also indicates his viewpoint or his bias. For instance, an author who is concerned with environmental conservatism does have a tone which is quite passionate which shows his emotions toward the issue. A neutral or formal tone however might signify an objective positioning when simply presenting the facts. The importance of tone also assists you in discerning an author's emotion and possible bias.Bias arises when a writer shows support for an idea, which can lead to ignoring or downplaying other ideas. It is important to point out bias because it shapes the manner information is given. For example, a writer opposed to technology would only consider its negative effects narrating the costs and ignoring the benefits. Knowing the bias, one can read more effectively as one understands and accepts the author's viewpoint while being able to consider alternatives.
Evaluating Evidence and Argumentation
In reading critically, a major issue for concern is the evidence presented. Evidence can consist of different forms of evidential support, which authors employ to substantiate his arguments such as statistics, expert opinion, other peoples experience or providing an example especially a famous one. In order to analyse a certain position, it is worth determining if the estimate includes the supporting evidence, and if so, how substantial.Consider whether the evidence provided backs up the key points of the argument being made or if it is almost irrelevant. Evidence tends to come from credible sources like research or the citing of experts, but on the contrary, providing a personal view at best unsupported makes the argument weak in terms of validity. Think about how much proof is necessary as well; to make a complex claim, perhaps one or two instances may not be adequate. In this case, by looking qualitatively at the evidence provided, one can ascertain the reliability of the argument and hence determine whether or not they concur with the author's assertions.
Interpreting Inferences and Implications
A broad range of ideas is often delivered by writers to readers implicitly, through inferences which the readers then have to decode the meaning 'supposedly' 'understood'. An inference would be a reasonable conclusion based on the facts available whereas an implication would indicate the more wide – ranging effect that these together might have. Understanding these entails reading between the lines and conjecturing what is not overtly said in the text, but what the author might be suggesting.When attempting to make an inference, look for clues in the descriptive language, images, or the tone of the piece. These would help you gather some of the author's reasons for silence on certain issues. In the same vein, examine the consequences of maintaining the position. For example, when an author makes an appeal to a goal against environmental degradation, one of the implications is that the existing system is not efficient. Understanding such differences enables you to come up with a more complete interpretation of the data.
Evaluating Arguments from Different Angles
Most of the time critical reading makes one look at the arguments from several angles with the aim of understanding the issue better. Many areas including social and political issues are normally multi-faceted and it is always necessary to look at the other side to prevent the arguments from being unidirectional. In your reading, imagine what else the author may be trying to say or what else they may be trying to argue, a view that the author fails to mention.Whenever you find such opposing texts, it helps to notice how each author articulates their argument, the conclusions that they reach, or even their tone. Making an effort to understand arguments from different angles makes one less biassed when it comes to making a decision on an issue. Further, the same or different perspectives can confuse you even more since several views on one issue may be raised leading to conflicts in the reader's mind.
Ways of Reading Language and Rhetoric
Messages within language and rhetorical devices in a text interact with each other and how they are understood. Certain words, structures, and techniques are purposefully selected by authors in order to persuade, inform, or entertain. It is one of the aspects of critical reading to be aware of those choices, as it helps readers see how the text is made in order to rankle them.What metaphors and analogies can be drawn and what remnants are repeated? These components are quite frequently subordinated and serve a great deal of the argument and explanation of the complex ideas particularly. For instance, the authoruses a metaphor as a way of explaining something which is rather broad so as to help the audience grasp the idea. Language also helps in establishing the tone; if language is mostly emotionally appealing, then it is feeling oriented, whereas language is formal and serious. It is this appreciation of details that enables you to judge the effectiveness of the author's communication and whether the language used helps the argument or weakens it.
Recall and Constructive Criticism of the Text
Upon completion of a reading, summarising the key arguments and thoughts, should follow which will serve to refer to areas on which the text has an effect. Summarisation requires you to try to be economical with the information of the text in a manner which makes you extract only the pertinent ones, reflecting on the voices makes it possible for one to appraise their own emotions, agreement or disagreement with such an author, and use the information in other spheres.Consider how the text supports or contradicts your own beliefs or past experiences. Does the author make a good case in favour of the argument, and where does the argument lack? Asking questions on such matters deepens your thinking and makes you a better reader.
