Reading critically

Conversely, critical thinking depends on critical reading. You can think critically about a text (critical thinking), after all, only if you have understood it (critical reading). We may choose to accept or reject a presentation, but we must know why. We have a responsibility to ourselves, as well as to others, to isolate the real issues of agreement or disagreement. Only then can we understand and respect other people’s views. To recognise and understand those views, we must read critically.

So, what should we look out for in a critical reading of a text? We can think of a writer as having taken on a job. No matter what the topic, certain tasks must be done:

• a specific topic must be addressed
• terms must be clearly defined
• evidence must be presented
• common knowledge must be accounted for
• exceptions must be explained
• causes must be shown to precede effects and to be capable of the effect
• conclusions must be shown to follow logically from earlier arguments and evidence.

As critical readers and writers, we want to assure ourselves that these tasks have been undertaken in a complete, comprehensive, and consistent manner. Only once we have determined that a text is consistent and coherent can we then begin to evaluate whether or not to accept the assertions and conclusions. This is where your critical thinking skills come into play. Refer to the aforementioned unit ‘Creative thinking and critical thinking’.