Critical Reading Strategies Primary sources: Christina Haas and Linda Flower; Andrea Lunsford

 Look at text as information and content… they disregard the author’s intentions and believe everything is a “fact.”  Think if they understand all the words and can paraphrase the article, they “get” it.

 They consider the author… and the author’s purpose. (“What does she want from the reader?”)  They analyze why the text is—or isn’t— persuasive. (“Do I buy this? What appeals has he used to convince me?”)

 They bring their own knowledge to a text. (“Does this align to my own experiences? Why or why not?”)  They consider “facts” to be “claims.” (“How do I know that to be true? How does the author seek to convince me? What is the evidence?”)

Reading only for “information exchange” is inadequate when understanding texts.

 Use a pen, pencil, highlighter, tape, ketchup, eye liner— whatever you need to note certain phrases and passages that stand out to you.  Make a note of WHY the section made you stop and think. Did it feel true to you? Why or why not?  Look up anything that’s confusing.

 Consider the rhetorical situation.  Who is the writer? What is her goal? What is the purpose of this text?  Who is the primary audience? Secondary? How do I know?  What is the genre (form of the text)? Why did the author chose a speech, an article, Facebook, etc. to deliver this message? What are some strengths and limitations to the selected genre?

 Consider stylistic decisions. How do you know what the writer thinks? How is her stance revealed through word choice? Is it favorable? Negative? Neutral?  Explore author strategies. How does tone, sentence structure, selected quotations, etc. work to achieve the author’s position?

Both of these images depict a person without a permanent address. How is the context different?

 Consider the subjects. Who is more sympathetic? Why?  Consider the purpose. If these images were on a poster, what would the headlines read? Would one ask for a neighborhood watch while the other asks for a donation? How do these image use appeals to make these claims?  How is the photographer and what does she want from you?

 For more ways to better understand what you read—and how to employ the same strategies when you write—see the “Understanding Rhetorical Situation” section.