Critical or analytic reading

Step 1 Make an initial appraisal: evaluate the source.

Decide if the source is worth

Title—Can you predict what the reading is

about?

Timing—Is it recent? Significant

research?

Step 2 Record bibliographic details.

Write down all the details you will need for your reference list.

Step 3 Prepare to read the source

Before reading for detail, take a few minutes to obtain an overview of the reading by establishing
the following.

- Establish your purposes for reading Write down a question to which Literal ,
you need to find answers.
- Read a summary Lateral,
- Record new vocabulary, write down new terminology Critical,
- Skim the readings to get the overview, tables diagrams Speculative.
-Scan a section, read one or two sections in details
-Read a section, Highlight key point and then summaries these with
Step 6 Talk,
notes using a diagram or in few sentence
talk, talk!
Another way to
Step 4 Read the section in detail. Now you read to get a
meaning of the section that you have decide to read extend your
thinking about
Read a section what you are
-Read the first sentence of each paragraph in the section reading is to
- Highlight key points and then summaries these with notes on the talk about it
document, using a diagram or in a few sentences. with you peers,
friends and
Step 5 Think about the information you are reading. supervisors or
The key to critical reading is asking questions. Ask some lecturers.
questions at different levels of analysis Discuss the
reading at any
level of understanding. Joining reading group is a way to discuss a series of
on the same topic.

Step 7 Write about the information you are reading.

Record your thoughts at the literal, critical and speculative levels either on a
reading log, RefWorrks or End Note.
-Write a paragraph about the reading. Summaries and then make a critical
comment.