Critical Reading
In this pod Dr Navin Doloswala introduces you to some of his top tips and strategies for getting through assigned weekly readings. He’ll also make you laugh! After you’ve watched the pod make time to work through the follow-up resources. There’s some fantastic material – most of which has been produced by the Library – that will help you stay on top of your tutorial readings and select the best sources for your assignments. Try the APPEAL method to evaluate your supporting texts, learn how to take notes that will help your reading and your writing, and use the Library’s helpful guide for keeping readings organised.
Why Critical Reading?
People will often say you have to read a lot at University and it’s true. It’s through a combined method of writing, thinking and practice that you’ll learn the most during your degree. But there’s a big difference between getting a general idea of what a text is about and reading it critically.
At its most basic, critical reading means you’ve understood an idea or argument that’s been put forward, that you’ve evaluated the evidence used to support the argument, and that you’ve also taken the perspective or bias of the author into account.
If you don’t read critically then you may find yourself unquestioningly accepting texts and arguments that might be flawed, biased or subjectively written. This may lead you to think uncritically.
Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and logically about a theory, argument or reading in a systematic and ordered way. It means being able to independently reflect upon and assess an argument, idea or data set, drawing on the presentation of materials and additional research, and the ability to reach conclusions about its efficacy and validity, as well as the forces and factors that have shaped its development.
Critical reading is the foundation for critical thinking and for successful and engaging academic writing and research. Without the ability to read critically and identify an argument it becomes very difficult to critically assess and think about it. The two skills are closely connected to critical and academic writing, as Debra Knott from the University of Toronto writes:
“most of the papers you write will involve reflection on written texts – the thinking and research that has already been done on your subject. In order to write your own analysis of this subject, you will need to do careful critical reading of sources and to use them critically to make your own argument.”
FOLLOW-UP READING
Critical Reading Resources
The why, when and what of reading
How to read for analysis, research and writing at Western Sydney University
Analysing the assignment question
How to read effectively
Reading worksheet
Organising your reading
Types of sources
APPEAL: Evaluating Resources
Critical reading checklist