Questions for Critical Reading

A critical reader constantly asks one big question as she reads:

AM I REALLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT I'M READING?

Break that question apart into many other questions:

CONSIDERING THE SOURCE

Where was this writing published?  Who gave it to me?  What do I know about these sources?
What is the writer's background in this subject?
Who is the writer's audience?

RECOGNIZING WHAT IS SAID

What is the writer's main purpose?  What is he basically trying to prove?

How does this purpose match up with what I already know or believe?  

If the writer challenges my beliefs, are my beliefs strong enough that I can let the writer have her say? 

Has the writer really said what I think she said?  Where are some places where I'm not sure what she's saying, or don't see how what she's saying fits in with her overall main purpose?

RECOGNIZING ASSUMPTIONS, IMPLICATIONS

Does the writer make inconsistent statements?
What has the writer assumed to be true? Which of these assumptions are stated? unstated?
What does the writer assume everybody knows about the topic?

What does the writer assume everybody already believes, about the topic or the world in general?
What does the writer imply, rather than state straight out? 

RECOGNIZING INTENT, ATTITUDE, TONE, BIAS

What is the writer's attitude? tone? biases?
Does the writer mean what she says or is she making her point in an indirect way through humor, satire, irony, or sarcasm?
Are the writer's words to be taken exactly as they appear, or are they slang, idioms, or figures of speech?
Which of the writer's statements are facts? opinions?

ANALYZING ARGUMENTS

Does the writer write emotionally?  What emotions does she use?

How does the writer manipulate her own ethos?  What does she tell us about herself, or lead us to believe about herself?
Which of the writer's statements does she support? Which does she leave unsupported?

What kind of evidence does the writer give to back up her statements? statistics, quotes from experts, examples, anecdotes?
What conclusions does the writer reach?
Of the writer's conclusions, which are justified? Which ones are not justified?

A critical reader:

• does not believe everything she reads.

• questions everything which doesn't make sense to her.

• questions some things even though they do make sense to her.

• rereads when she thinks she may have missed something.

• carefully considers the type of material she is reading before deciding how much weight to give to it.

• is aware of her own assumptions and biases.

• admits that the effect on him of what the writer says may be caused more by the writer's style of writing than by the facts presented.

• analyzes arguments.

• discounts arguments based on faulty reasoning.

• can state her good reasons for believing some things and disbelieving others - for agreeing with some writers and disagreeing with others.