An Introduction to Critical Reading.

An Introduction to Critical Reading and Argument Many of us have heard the term critical reading thrown around but have little clue as to what it might mean. For our purposes, critical reading is a form of active reading in which students engage with texts, using a variety of strategies that help the student understand and analyze a text.

An Introduction to Critical Reading and Argument One of the strategies that critical readers use is learning to read at a variety of levels. A simple division of these levels would include Literal—examining the text’s actual meaning without going into “reading between the lines.” Interpretive—examining the text’s implied meanings. This involves “reading between the lines.” Inference is often used. Evaluative—Judging the text’s merits based on a set of reasonable criteria.

An Introduction to Critical Reading and Argument Other tools to aid in critical reading would be Determining whether the text is persuasive or informational Differentiating between the main point of the text and the supporting points Understanding the text’s context, meaning the conditions under which it was written. These include the year the text was written, the audience the text was written for, the original place of publication of the text, and how the text forms part of a “conversation” along with other texts.

An Introduction to Critical Reading and Argument In addition to critical reading, an understanding of basic elements of argument also help the student understand and analyze a text. Three classic elements of argument are Thesis—the main point the writer is trying to make, what he or she is trying to convince the reader of. Reasons—statements or rationales that explain why the thesis is correct. Evidence—Facts, examples, quotations, statistics, and other forms of concrete support that support the writer’s claims.

A Reading to Examine Read the essay “Why Mass Incarceration Doesn’t Pay” Make notes answering the following questions: Is this a persuasive or informational text? How do you know? What is the writer’s main idea and what are the writer’s supporting ideas? What is the text’s context? When was it written? Where was it published? For what audience was it published? How is this part of a “conversation” on this topic? Is this a well-written text? Why? On what criteria are you judging it?