Critical Reading & Thinking

Reading is a complex "cognitive process" of decoding

symbols in order to construct or derive meaning
(reading comprehension). Reading is a means of
language acquisition, communication, and of
sharing information and ideas. It is a complex
interaction between the text and the reader which is
shaped by the reader’s :
4 prior knowledge
4 experiences,
4 Attitude
4 language community which is culturally and
socially situated.
Kinds of Reading
Scanning
For example, scanning a telephone book:
4 You are looking for it quickly.
4 You know what you are searching for (key words
and names).
4 You 'see' every item on the page, but you don't
necessarily read the pages - you ignore anything
you are not looking for. Thus, when you discover the
key words being searched for, you will be unable to
recall the exact content of the page.
Skimming

When you read quickly to gain a general impression as

to whether the text is of use to you. You are not
necessarily searching for a specific item and key
words. Skimming provides an 'overview' of the text.
Skimming is useful to look at chapter/section
headings, summaries and opening paragraphs. The
purpose of skimming:
4 To check relevance of text.
4 Sets the scene for the more concentrated effort that
is to follow, if the text is useful.
Extensive Reading

A method of reading for study is called SQ3R the aim is to

understand the material in some depth. The method involves
five simple steps; Survey, Question, Read, Recall and Review.
4 Survey: skim through to gain an overview and not key points.
4 Question: devise questions you hope the text will answer.
4 Read: slowly and carefully.
4 Recall: from memory, write down the main points made by the
chapter.
4 Review: revisit your questions - compare these to your recall
and establish how well the text has answered them; fill in any
gaps by further reading and note-taking.
Critical Reading
Critical reading is an analytic activity. The reader rereads a text to
identify patterns of elements -- information, values, assumptions,
and language usage-- throughout the discussion. These
elements are tied together in an interpretation, an assertion of
an underlying meaning of the text as a whole.
Whenever you read, read to understand “how,” “why,” and “what.”
Look for the elements of reasoning: purpose, question at issue,
point of view, information, concepts, implications, assumptions,
conclusions, context, and alternatives.
Goals of Critical Reading
Textbooks on critical reading commonly ask students to
accomplish certain goals:
4 To recognize an author’s purpose           
4 To understand tone and persuasive elements
4 To recognize bias
Guideline for Critical Reading
Throughout, critical reading relies on abstracting, on classifying the
nature of things,
4 The nature of the structure of the text
4 The nature of the language employed
4 The nature of the examples & illustrations used
4 And the nature of the thinking that would explain all aspects of the
text being as they are.
4 Look for the author’s main point, and mark it when you find it.
4 Ask “What?” Why?” “Who?” “How?” and “So what?” questions.
4 Look for connections to other documents that might be helpful as
resources.
4 Re-read the document and compare your initial findings with your
new understanding. Have your questions been answered?
In the end, readers must take control of the text, not just repeat its
assertions. At its core, critical reading involves becoming the
author of one's own understanding.
Critical Thinking
No one always acts purely objectively and rationally.
We connive for selfish interests.  We gossip, boast,
exaggerate, and equivocate. It is "only human" to
wish to validate our prior knowledge, to vindicate
our prior decisions, or to sustain our earlier beliefs.
In the process of satisfying our ego, however, we
can often deny ourselves intellectual growth and
opportunity. We may not always want to apply
critical thinking skills, but we should have those
skills available to be employed when needed.
4 Critical thinking includes a complex combination of skills. 
Among the main characteristics are the following:
Rationality
We are thinking critically when we:
4 rely on reason rather than emotion,
4 require evidence, ignore no known evidence, and follow
evidence where it leads, and
4 are concerned more with finding the best explanation than being
right analyzing apparent confusion and asking questions.
Self-awareness
We are thinking critically when we:
4 weigh the influences of motives and bias, and
4 recognize our own assumptions, prejudices, biases, or point of
view.
Honesty
We are thinking critically when we recognize emotional impulses,
selfish motives, nefarious purposes, or other modes of self-
deception.
Open-mindedness
We are thinking critically when we:
4 Evaluate all reasonable inferences
4 Consider a variety of possible viewpoints or
perspectives,
4 Remain open to alternative interpretations
4 Accept a new explanation, model, or paradigm
because it explains the evidence better, is simpler,
or has fewer inconsistencies or covers more data
4 Accept new priorities in response to a re-evaluation
of the evidence or reassessment of our real
interests, and
4 Do not reject unpopular views out of hand.
Discipline
We are thinking critically when we
4 are precise, meticulous, comprehensive, and
exhaustive
4 resist manipulation and irrational appeals, and
4 avoid snap judgments.
Judgment
We are thinking critically when we
4 recognize the relevance and/or merit of alternative
assumptions and perspectives
4 recognize the extent and weight of evidence
Critical Reading vs Critical Thinking
We can distinguish between critical reading and critical
thinking in the following way:
4 Critical reading is a technique for discovering
information and ideas within a text.
4 Critical thinking is a technique for evaluating
information and ideas, for deciding what to accept
and believe.
Critical reading refers to a careful, active, reflective,
analytic reading. Critical thinking involves reflecting
on the validity of what you have read in light of our
prior knowledge and understanding of the world. 
By these definitions, critical reading would appear to
come before critical thinking: Only once we have fully
understood a text (critical reading) can we truly
evaluate its assertions (critical thinking). 
In actual practice, critical reading and critical thinking work
together. 
Critical thinking allows us to monitor our understanding as we read.
  If we sense that assertions are ridiculous or irresponsible
(critical thinking), we examine the text more closely to test our
understanding (critical reading). 
Conversely,  critical thinking depends on critical reading.  You can
think critically about a text (critical thinking), after all, only if you
have understood it (critical reading).  We may choose to accept
or reject a presentation, but we must know why. We have a
responsibility to ourselves, as well as to others, to isolate the
real issues of agreement or disagreement. Only then can we
understand and respect other people’s views.  To recognize and
understand those views, we must read critically.
End