Critical reading abilities include the ability to not only comprehend but also interact with text on a page. When reading critically, a person should be able to recognize the author’s context, intended audience, and tone or style in which the piece was written. Readers should also be aware of the logic employed in an article, as well as whether or not the author has sufficient evidence to support his or her claims. This will allow the reader to assess the quality of the information presented in the text and to develop their own understanding of the concepts presented.
While there is nothing wrong with reading for pleasure, some types of reading necessitate critical reading abilities. This includes both academic and professional reading. In fact, critical reading and thinking skills are taught in some school curricula. Students’ learning will be disrupted if they lack these skills, as they must be able to evaluate information presented to them both inside and outside the classroom. When students begin to do their own writing in response to what they are learning in class, critical reading skills become even more important.
When applying critical reading skills to a book, article, or other piece of text, it’s often helpful if the reader can find some basic information about the author and some background on why he or she wrote the text. Knowing a writer’s background and credentials can assist a reader in determining whether a text is based on true expertise or the author’s personal opinion. Knowing a writer’s affiliations, such as with businesses or political lobbying groups, can also help determine whether the writing is truly objective or if the writer has an agenda.
The ability to define and comprehend a text’s main concepts and argument is another aspect of critical reading skills. Given that some authors may use words and expressions in ways that the reader does not, this can be more difficult than it appears. Someone with critical reading skills will work to identify what, if anything, in the writing supports or weakens the argument when evaluating a text’s argument. Readers who are more creative may want to think more deeply about the evidence presented the writer and develop their own arguments in support of the thesis that differ from the writer’s. This can help the reader better integrate what he or she is reading and come to their own conclusions.