Critical Reading Strategies Dr. Janice Newton, Vanier College June 2, 2016

Agenda: Novice vs Expert Readers Collecting vs Structuring Information Reading Strategy: SQ4R (SPARK)

Sample text: Read as if studying for a class Test: What is it about? Purpose? Components? Logical Sequence? Conclusions?

Novices: Ignore context; start at first word Don’t prime the pump (prior knowledge) Read to “collect” information Ignore the structure of the writing

Expert Readers: Pre-read (see next slide) Review prior knowledge of the topic Focus on context (course context, etc.) Discern structure (introduction, main argument, counter-arguments, examples, definitions, sub-themes, etc.) Anticipate the author’s argument

Pre-Reading I: Ellen Wood Reading www.yorku.ca/library If you do not have the original text in hand, locate it through the library. What can tell you about the source before reading: Publisher information (academic or not?) Date published –implications for the topic? The subject headings under which it is sorted Author’s bio? Implications of title and sub-headings

Author Information – Is this a reliable source? How it is indexed….(useful for research) LC Call Number ISBN (if you want to buy it) Publisher – status?  Date & Place

Reflect on your article’s context… Heading 1: Truth, Myth and History ** Your articles** Heading 2: Need for World History Heading 3: Master’s of the Historical Craft

Scan rest of book, chapter: Tables Index Charts Pictures Text Boxes

Scan chapter Look at section headings: beginnings and ends Skim the introduction and conclusion Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph

Look for Structure: Different Styles of Structure: Argument Framework: question, thesis, definitions, evidence Systems Framework: System, inputs/outputs, components, etc. Novel Framework Plot, language, context, relationships, characters

Questions: Reporter Questions: Who, what, when, where, etc. Analytical Questions: What is it about? What is the author’s question? What is the author’s answer to that question? Key evidence Rude little question: So What? Your thoughts, connections to other readings, etc.

SPARK: SQ4R: www.yorku.ca/spark

SPARK: SQ4R Survey Question Read Respond Record Review

Look for the forest before the trees

“Reading and writing, like everything else, improves with practice “Reading and writing, like everything else, improves with practice. And, of course, if there are no young readers and writers, there will shortly be no older ones. Literacy will be dead, and democracy – which many believe goes hand in hand with democracy – will be dead as well.” Margaret Atwood

yorku.collegiatelink.net/form/start/9313 BONUS POINTS If you attended this workshop, you can claim bonus points if your professor is counting them in your course. Bonus Point requests are submitted through YU Connect: yorku.collegiatelink.net/form/start/9313 Step 1: Join YU Connect   Step 2: Request to join Vanier College Organization Will take 48 hours. After approved  Step 3 Step 3: Fill in the bonus point request form (yorku.collegiatelink.net/form/start/9313)