reading critically Flashcards
What is critical reading?
Critical reading is a more ACTIVE way of reading. It is a deeper and more complex engagement with a text. Critical reading is a process of analyzing, interpreting and, sometimes, evaluating.
If the purpose of reading is “to get a basic grasp of the text.” what is the purpose critically?
To form judgments about HOW a text works.
if the activity of reading is “Absorbing/Understanding” What is the activity critically?
Analyzing/Interpreting/Evaluating
If the focus of reading is “What a text says” what is focus critically?
How does the text work? How is it argued?What are the choices made? The patterns that result?What kinds of reasoning and evidence are used?What are the underlying assumptions?What does the text mean?
If the direction of reading is “WITHthe text (taking for granted it is right)” what is the direction critically?
AGAINSTthe text (questioning its assumptions and argument, interpreting meaning in context)
If the response in reading is “Restatement, Summary” what is the response critically?
Description, Interpretation, Evaluation
What are the two steps to preparing to read critically?
“Self-reflect” and “read to understand”
What is the process of critical thinking?
analysis, interpretation, and evaluation.
What does analysis mean for the critical thinking process?
Analysis means looking at the parts of something to detect patterns. In looking at these patterns, your critical thinking skills will be engaged in analyzing the argument the author is making
What does interpretation mean for the critical thinking process?
Interpretation is reading ideas as well as sentences. We need to be aware of the cultural and historical context, the context of its author’s life, the context of debates within the discipline at that time and the intellectual context of debates within the discipline today.
What does evaluation mean for the critcal thinking process?
Evaluation is making judgments about the intellectual/cognitive, aesthetic, moral or practical value of a text. When we are considering its intellectual/cognitive value we ask questions such as these:
