This page
provides a brief summary in outline form of the much longer
"Critical Reading" webpage. Feel free to print a copy of
this page for your records. Click here if you wish to go
back to the full text of the "Critical
Reading" webpage. Click here to download a PDF
handout of the same material below, or click here for
a slightly
expanded version of the same material.
OUTLINE AND SUMMARY:
- I.
PRE-READING
- A. Preliminary
Examination
-
- Examine the Length
- Examine the Title
- Think about the
Author
- Preview the Introduction
and Conclusion of the Essay
-
B.
Classification
- Classify the General
Subject Matter in 2-3 words
- Skim the Essay
and Describe what Kind of Essay it is
-
C.
"Seeing the Skeleton"
- Spot Subdivisions:
- Jot Down a Brief
Outline of the Essay
- Think about how
parts of outline relate to the whole
- Define the Basic
Problem the Author discuss
- Make Up a Few
Questions About the Essay Before Reading
-
-
II.
INTERPRETIVE READING
-
A.
Look for the Important Words
- Locate Recurring
Words
- Identify and Look-up
Unknown Words
- Identify Oddly
Used Words
- Identify Ambiguous
Words
-
B.
Paraphrase and Summarize
- Paraphrase as
you Read
- Summarize What
You've Just Read
-
C.
Locate and Identify the Parts You do not Understand.
- Mark Confusing
Sections
- Reread Confusing
Sections
- Talk it over with
other Readers
- Sleep on it and
return later, if all else fails.
-
-
III.
CRITICAL READING
-
A.
Ask Questions
- Talk Back to the
Text
- Question the Text
- Question Your
Own Attitude
- Examine the Context
- Look for Broader
Implications
- Figure out why
it is important
-
B.
Make your Mark
- Make Notes in
the Margin
- Make Notes to
Bring to Class
-
-
IV.
SYNOPTIC or SYNTOPIC READING
-
A.
Seek Confirmation
-
B.
Seek Disagreement
-
C.
Seek Synthesis
-
-
V.
POST-READING
-
A.
Review
- Look again at
the notes you took while reading
- Double-check that
you've answered your own questions.
-
B.
Summarize
- Restate the main
argument and conclusion of the essay in a single
sentence.
- Summarize your
own reaction to the essay.
-
C.
Explain
- Explain, in your
own words, how the author reached his conclusion.
- Explain why you
found it convincing or not.
Click here
if you wish to go back to the full text of the "Critical
Reading" webpage.
Click here to download a PDF
handout of the same material below.
Click here for a slightly
expanded version of the same material.
