Reading Critically

The author in this essay highlights several steps the reader ought to take in order to read a piece both critically and effectively. The process begins at the forefront of the piece itself: the title. Sizing up the title itself early on can give the reader a pretty good picture what they are about to digest. Titles can help set the context for the passage as well, which helps the reader understand its plot, setting, and purpose. Additional help for establishing the context can be found in details about the author of the piece; knowing the writer's background and perspective can give the reader a hint of what the passage might be about. Once ready for the first full read-through, the reader not should focus on smaller details, but instead try to get a general gist of the writing. After the initial read, he or she should go back and re-analyze the piece in more depth. It is during this second time that the reader should make notes and annotations in the margins of and highlights within the body of the piece. The three critical steps to remember during this process are analysis, inference, and synthesis. These three steps allow the reader to build down and then reconstruct the passage, giving them a more well-rounded perspective on the purpose and intent of the piece.