Week 3: Critical

reading process
Lecturer: Ms. Thinh
Nguyen, MA
 Main contents

∙ Introduction to different types of evidence/data (testimony, quantitative data, facts &

figures, personal anecdote, etc.)
• Critical reading process with four reading approaches (Skimming, scanning, detailed and
revision reading)

• Interacting with reading texts (annotation, outlining, highlighting, etc.)

ILOs
By the end of the unit, students will be able to:

• identify different types of data/evidence

•Utilize four reading approaches in analyzing chosen reading

materials;

•Apply different note-making methods (annotation, outlining,

highlighting, etc.) while reading; and

•Use APA-style referencing to note down common academic

sources, namely books & book chapters, journal articles and
webpages.
Section 1: Types of
evidence
Strengthening arguments with evidence

Strategies
Kinds of
for framing
evidence
evidence
 1. Controlling the space Depending on their audience and purpose, writers
given to supporting versus can devote most of their space to supporting
contrary evidence evidence and minimal space to contrary evidence
(or omit it entirely).

2. Emphasizing a detailed Often, writers can choose to support a point with a

story versus presenting memorable individual case or with aggregate data
lots of facts and statistics such as statistics or lists of facts. A memorable

Strategies
story can have a strongly persuasive effect.

3. Providing contextual and When citing data, writers can add brief contextual

for framing
interpretive comments or interpretive comments that act as lenses over
when presenting data the readers eyes to help them see the data from

evidence
the writer s perspective.

4. Putting contrary Just as a photographer can place a flower at the

evidence in subordinate center of a photograph or in the background, a
positions writer can place a piece of data in a subordinate
or main clause of a sentence.
 Kinds of evidence

⬩ Data from personal experience

 Kinds of evidence

⬩ Data from observation or field research

 Kinds of evidence

⬩ Data from interviews, questionnaires, surveys

 Kinds of evidence

⬩ Data from library or internet research

 Kinds of evidence

⬩ Testimony
 Kinds of evidence

⬩ Statistical data
 Kinds of evidence

⬩ Hypothetical examples, cases, and scenarios

 Kinds of evidence

⬩ Reasoned sequence of ideas

Section 2:
Critical reading
process
 Skimming

Skimming will help you grasp the general idea or gist of

a text. You might quickly read the table of contents, the
headings or the abstract. You could also read the first
and last paragraphs and the first and last sentence of

READING each paragraph in a relevant section.

Scanning
APPROACHES
Scanning allows you to locate precise information. You
might identify a key terms or expressions which will
alert you to where your subject is being addressed. You
could then run your eyes over a text looking for these.
 Detailed reading

• Detailed reading allows you to critically

consider aspects of the text. This may
involve close reading of the entire text,
or of important sections of the text.

READING
APPROACHES Revision reading

• This involves reading rapidly through

material with which you are already
familiar, in order to confirm knowledge
and understanding.
Stages in reading a
text
It is important to break down the reading process into
the following stages:

Before reading get an overview of the text:

skim the table of contents, headings and subheadings

read the introduction and conclusion

scan the relevant sections to locate where your topic

is discussed
Stages in During reading closely follow the development of

reading a
the ideas in the text:

text • read actively - write in the margins, highlight phrases, take note
of important points
• don't forget to examine diagrams and figures as they are
information-dense
• read critically - ask yourself questions; for example, Is the
argument logical? Is it biased? Is there enough evidence to
support the author's conclusions?

After reading think over what you have read. Make

a brief summary of the main ideas and concepts in
the text.
SAMPLE:
HOW TO READ AN
ARTICLE
EFFECTIVELY
 Title

Abstract + Key words

Structure Introduction

Literature review (optional)

of a
Methodology/ experimental
journal Results and discussion (tables, figures, etc.)

article Summary/ conclusions

References
Process of reading an article

+ Read the title, + Read the Step 2 Reading the

Step 1 Survey the
abstract and key introduction & article (scanning and
article (skimming)
words conclusion detailed reading)

+ Look at the tables + Read the + Read the results + Read the
and figures first introduction and discussion methodology
Section 3:
Interaction
with texts
Annotation, note-taking,
outlining, etc.
 ANNOTATION

To “mark-up” something you are reading

To jot down questions or notes in the margins

To comment, react, and raise questions in the margins of your text

To reflect your engagement with the text and its author(s)

To have a conversation with the author(s)

To develop those preliminary interactions into a more detailed and comprehensive response
in your essay
Handwritten annotations
Digital annotations
 NOTE-TAKING
(Bibliographical entry notes)

• To have a clear understanding of the text’s structure and idea development

• Not write down everything you read, just important ideas

• organize your ideas and information from the text

• keep focused and stay engaged while reading

• keep a record of what you read so you can more easily locate it in the future

• think critically about what you read while you read

• draw conclusions and identify main ideas of the text

• be prepared for class and build a foundation for lecture

• have solid materials to use to study for exams or prepare for assignments
Features of a good note

•source information (title, author, date etc.)

•headings to help you identify the key topics

•key points, examples, names, new ideas

•triggers to make your notes more memorable – such

as mnemonics, color or drawings

•further reading and ideas to follow up later.

Template of a bibliographical note
 Bibliographical details

•author’s surname and initial

•the title of book / article / page

•the title of the journal / website

•publisher / sponsor

•page numbers of article

•website details, including URL etc.

 Comments on information

What links can be made to the topic/ other research?

Does the author say anything new or of particular interest?

Do I have questions? Is there anything that I don’t understand that I need to follow
up?

Is the author saying anything that I disagree with? Why do I disagree?

Is the author saying anything that contradicts the findings/ opinions of other authors?

What conclusions can I make from the points being made?

THANK YOU