What is Critical Reading and Why is it Important?

Critical reading is a skill that is used to analyse, question, and interpret written works. It allows for the understanding and assessment of an author's argument, and the ability to form an independent judgement. Critical reading is important because it allows for a greater understanding of the world around us and helps us to develop our own opinions on issues. We write differently for different purposes, and it's the same with reading. The key to good academic reading is to identify why you're reading or what you read, and then use different reading techniques to achieve these different kinds of purposes. You are not expected to read everything, so it's important to be selective about what you read.

Reading analytically means understanding why you are reading and reading only what we deem to be invaluable to our purpose. Use what you determine is necessary for your assessment. For purposes of your question mapping, do what you can to identify where there are the greatest gaps. When you finish reading a section from a book, summarize what information you pertained. Critical reading is a way of thinking about and engaging with what you read. It is a way of questioning and examining an author's argument, assumptions, and evidence. When you critically read, you are looking for the strengths and weaknesses of the text. You are also looking for ways to improve your own arguments and writing.

When reading academic texts, it is essential to understand the context of them and appreciate the writer's purpose in writing such text. If you have a good idea about what your topic is about, you can select passages that will be most useful for you in your research.

Some "ABCs of critical reading" are as follows:
Admit your ignorance. Don't pretend you know something you don't, or that you are sure of what you think.
Be open-minded. Do not assume everything in a text is true, or that it is always reasonable or appropriate to say or do something. 

1. Have a basic understanding of the topic: This can be gained from the lectures, tutorials, textbooks, or other general resources.
2. Read the text with a dictionary in hand and watch for words you don't know. Ask yourself why the author wrote the passage and how it will be useful to you in your research.
3. Read slowly: When you slow down your reading, you are more likely to make more connections within the text.
   

The points covered in this blog will serve as a helpful guide for developing your critical reading skills. You can learn many more valuable strategies, tips and tricks in our Critical Reading module.