Meeting 1 -

Introduction to
Critical Reading
Syifa Fadhilah Hamid, M.Pd.
 By the end of this session the students will be
able to:

Learning • Know and understand the description of

critical reading.

Objectives • Know and understand description of sub-

lessons in critical reading.

• Describe the purposes of critical reading.

Syifa Fadhilah Hamid, M.Pd. Critical Reading 2

Principles
Critical reading begins with one simple thing: curiosity.
You were curios enough about this book when you picked it
up, weren't you? That is the first step. You have just made
your first move toward learning how to read with a critical
eye. When referring to criticism in terms of literature, we do
not mean "to find fault". Literary criticism is the ability to
judge the quality and/or meaning of a piece of writing.
Critical reading is a way of reading that will allow you to
take a deeper look at literature. It is an acquired skill that
you will develop with some knowledge and experience.

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 Cont.
To read critically means to read analytically which means
to question and to think about the written material in front of you.
When you question something, it usually leads to finding answers
when you read, there are only the author's attentions and your
interpretations. Learning to read critically will not only start you
on a journey to reading well. It will also help you understand all
kinds of literature from newspapers to great works of fiction.
What does curiosity have to do with critical reading? Absolutely
everything! Learning to read in depth with comprehension and
being open to new ways of thinking and understanding can only
start with an itch to want to know more whether it is for your own
personal knowledge or for a class (Wall, 2005).

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According to Wallace (2003) critical reading has
five characteristics
• First, critical reading represents a challenge to the skills-based orientation of many cognitive
psychological models which emphasize the building of discrete kinds of abilities based – albeit often
implicitly – on some supposed hierarchy of difficulty.
• Secondly, critical reading does not see non-native speaker readers in their reading of authentic, non-
pedagogic texts, as necessarily disadvantaged – on the contrary.
• Thirdly, critical reading does not privilege an author’s communicative intent but is concerned with
effect. The aim is not to converge with the author, but to disrupt or challenge the schemas called up
by the text; the author is not the sole or ultimate arbitrator of a text’s meaning.
• Fourthly, critical reading involves critiquing not just the logic, argument or sentiments expressed in
texts but the ideological assumptions underpinning them.
• Finally, and most importantly, critical readers do not just comment metacognitively, showing
awareness of the cognitive strategies they make use of, but also meta-critically.

3A & 3B Introduction to Critical Reading 5

Critical reading as the ability to understand what we
read, use language effectively, and give reason clearly that
is also one of the tests in SAT I (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
to measure the aptitude for college work that tests
vocabulary, verbal reasoning, and the ability to
understand reading passages.

Based upon reading selections ranging from 200 to 850

words critical reading questions may require you to:
 Recognize the meaning of a word as used in context.

 Interpret specific information presented in the passage.

 Analyze information in one part of the passage in terms

of information presented in another part of the passage.
 Evaluate the author's assumptions or identify the logical
structure of the passage.

3A & 3B Critical Reading 6

 Some reading selections consist of a pair of passages that present different points of view on the same or
related subjects. The passages may support each other, oppose each other, or in some way complement each
other. Some questions relate to each passage separately and others ask you to compare contrast or evaluate
the two passages. There are three types of SAT critical reading questions:

1. Vocabulary-in-context questions ask you to define a specific word in the passage.

2. Literal comprehension questions require you to identify information directly stated in the passages.

3. Extended reasoning questions ask you to analyze evaluate and pull together information from the passages.
These questions involve finding causes/effects making inferences analyzing and using logical reasoning.
Most of the critical reading questions involve extended reasoning.

Syifa Fadhilah Hamid, M.Pd. Critical Reading 7

 Analyzing: Exploration
& Discovery
Analyzing a book involves the ability to ask questions.
Analysis does not have to lead to conclusions, it need only
lead you toward a deeper examination. When it does lead to
answers, however, it makes for a more satisfying reading
experience.
When looking for answers from any text, start by asking
why?
• Why did the author need to tell this story?

• Why did the author need to reveal this argument?

• Why did the author choose this way of expressing

himself or herself?

9/3/20XX Critical Reading: Syifa Fadhilah Hamid, M.Pd. 8

 After you've exhausted why, move on to who.
• Who is this author? Is this the voice of a storyteller?
• A journalist? A dreamer?
• A poet? A political activist?
• Is the author trying to be funny?
• Is he or she trying to teach me something?

Now, move on to how.

• How did the author put together this piece of writing?

Syifa Fadhilah Hamid, M.Pd, Critical Reading 9

 Do not be afraid to admit there are things you
don't know, and do not feel frustrated if you
can not answer these questions immediately.
After all, you're playing the part of a literary
Remember. archaeologist here. You are digging to reveal
more about the text to yourself. As long as
you're asking questions, you are on the right
track!

3A & 3B Critical Reading 10

Cont.
When you are engaged in the story, the author has done his
job. He has grabbed your attention, and now it is your job
to intermittently evaluate your reading experience. Start
asking yourself some basic critical reading questions:
• What kinds of feelings are you having while reading
this book?
• What do you think and feel about the world the author
has created?
• Are you noticing a certain style of writing or the use of
symbols?
• How and why is the author trying to hook you?

3A & 3B Introduction to Critical Reading 11

 Objective Reading
• Objective reading is very
different from subjective
reading. To read objectively, you
must apply yourself as a student
who has something to learn. This
can be a greater challenge than
subjective reading because it
means you must shut down
certain preconceptions or biases
that you have as a human being.
• Objective reading requires you
to go into the material with an
open mind, which may be a very
difficult task depending on how
far the book varies from your
own subjective thinking. When
you read objectively, you should
be asking yourself one basic
question from the get-go:

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Today’s Summary
• Critical reading is the
ability to take a more in-
depth look at literature
with the intention of
formulating your own
opinions and conclusions.
• Curiosity and critical
reading go hand in hand.
It is very difficult to
analyze a text if you're not
even a little bit interested in
anything about it.
Syifa Fadhilah Hamid, M.Pd.
• It is important to
understand the difference
between subjective and
objective reading and how
and where to apply this
skill.
• Active reading is the act of
putting yourself into the
book so that you can find
more than what is on the
surface. Passive reading is
the act of reading for
pleasure or entertainment.
Introduction to Critical Reading
• To know a book, you need
to first have a grasp of its
structure. To understand
that book, you need to see
how the book forms around
the structure to give it depth
and complexity.
• Get to know the author
both through her writing
and from outside sources
such as reviews, book
signings, or lectures.
13
 Comprehension
Questions
• What is critical reading?
• What is the purpose of critical reading?
• Based on your opinion how will you be
successful in critical reading? Please
elaborate your answer.

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 Mikulecky, Beatric S, Linda Jeffries.2000. Reading Power. Addison-Wesley
Publishing Company.

References
Thomson Peterson. 2005. Peterson New SAT Critical reading Workbook.
Thomson Peterson's, United States of America.
Amy W, Regina W. 2005. The Complete Idiot's Guide To Critical Reading.
Penguin Books, New York.
Wallace, Catherine. 2003. Critical Reading in Language Education. Palgrave,
MacMillan. New York.

3A & 3B Introduction to Critical Reading 15

 Read not to contradict and confute,
nor to believe and take for granted,
nor to find talk and discourse but
to weigh and consider.

Francis Bacon – 1625

3A & 3B Critical Reading 16

 Syifa Fadhilah Hamid, M.Pd.
Thank you syifadilah@unis.ac.id

IG: @syifadilahsyifa

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