Reading Strategies
● In critical reading, one needs to
PREVIEWING
● a pre-reading strategy to improve
the reader’s ability to focus.
● requires readers to skim the text to
get the main idea before reading it
in detail.
Skimming
- a reading technique that is
used to get an overall view,
gist or impression of the
content.
Better concentration leads to better
understanding.
Remember T.H.I.E.V.E.S.
Title.
- Read the title. It gives the reader a
gist of what the article is about.
Headings.
- The reader must ask himself: How
is the text organized? Is it divided
into parts? Are there subtitles?
Introduction.
- In this section, the thesis
statement is commonly found
which summarizes the whole article
Every first sentence.
- Readers do not just take note of
what the paragraph is about and
how they are connected to each
other. They also make predictions.
Visuals and Vocabulary.
- What clues do the pictures give
about the topic?
End of chapter questions.
Summary.
- Recall the facts that have been
skimmed.
CONTEXTUALIZING
● studying in context
place the texts in their historical,
biographical, and cultural contexts
to be aware of the differences
between the contemporary ideas
and those written in the texts.
Every era is different, to fully decode the
text, readers must take note of the
significance between the time and place
when and where the article is written, and
the time and place when the article is read.
QUESTIONING
● an engaging strategy that helps
the readers clarify and
comprehend what he is reading.
● The following questions denote
critical reading:
- How does the text work? How is it
argued?
- What are the choices made?
- What kinds of reasoning and
evidence are used?
- What are the underlying
assumptions?
- What does the text mean?
REFLECTING
● a purposeful activity in which a
person analyzes his/her own
experiences, or own skills,
practice, and responses in order
to learn more and gain
improvement.
● Reflection deepens learning and it
enables someone to make sense
of the acquired knowledge.
OUTLINING & SUMMARIZING
● organizes ideas and the main
points of the text
Outline
- skeleton of the text
pinpointing the main ideas
of the text.
Summary
 - a brief account of the
important points of
something.
- uses the words of the one
who did the summarizing;
however, it maintains the
ideas presented in the
original text.
EVALUATING THE ARGUMENT
● When readers evaluate the content,
they focus on information and they
consider its connection to their own
viewpoint.
● Readers make evidence-based
judgments.
COMPARING AND CONTRASTING
● will involve exploring similarities
and differences between related
texts
● May help readers increase
understanding of the texts and
also, evaluate the information
presented; tell whether whose work
is more accurate, believable and
consistent.
Reading Strategies For Critical
Thinking
IMPROVE YOUR VOCABULARY
● Read a wide range of text.
● Have a dictionary at all times
● Never assume the meaning of a
word that you are unfamiliar with.
● Keep a vocabulary journal where
you write down all words that you
learn on a daily or weekly basis.
● Learn at least three words a day
and try using them in sentences.
● Find opportunities to apply the
learned words in actual
conversations.
MIND YOUR READING
COMPREHENSION SKILLS
● Try to recall and explain the key
points on your own words after
each
● Avoid reading at a slower pace just
to compensate for your
comprehension.
IMPROVE YOUR READING SPEED
● Keep in mind that the reading pace
depends on the type of material
you are reading and your goal.
● Proactively focus on 2-4 words at a
time instead of fixating on a per
word reading basis.
● Read with your eyes and mind.
● Practice makes perfect.
● Force yourself to read at a faster
rate for short periods of time.
● Go at a speed that is uncomfortable
but you are still comprehending the
material.
● You should never read at a rate that
is slower than your average rate.
APPLY THE SQ3R (Survey,
Question, Read, Recite, &
Review)
● This is an active reading method
that, although will seem time
consuming at the beginning, can
still enhance your reading
comprehension and learning
efficiency.
DO SKIMMING & SCANNING
MAKE INFERENCES
● Take two or more details from the
reading and see if you can draw a
conclusion.
● When you are asked an inference
question, go back over the reading
and look for hints within the text.