Critical Reading Tips

R I T IC A L
C EADI
R N G
T I P S
Presentation by
Charles and Georgina Campion
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO
BE A CRITICAL READER?
There are a variety of answers
available to this question and among
them is the tested and proved SQ5R
study method. The SQ5R study
method, an improved version of SQR, is
an effective way to follow to become
an active reader.
Psychologist Francis P. Robinson of
Ohio State University developed the
method in 1941. The goal behind the
method is to enable you to engage
actively in the study of textbooks and
readings. It also helps you to process
information actively which in turn
leads to higher memory and mastery
of the material.
HERE IS THE DRAFT OF THE
SQ5R EXCERPTED FROM THE
LEARNING ASSISTANCE AND
RESOURCE CENTER OF
RADFORD UNIVERSITY:
1. SURVEY
Before reading the actual chapter, read the introduction
and summary (if given). Skim through the chapter paying
attention to topic headings, bold-faced words, pictures,
charts, and graphs. These can give you an idea of the
general structure and content before you begin reading
2. QUESTION
Set a purpose for your reading by developing questions
about the material. Use the topic and heading information
you gathered in the survey step to create questions to be
answered. Begin asking yourself who, what, where, when,
why, and how questions. Questions are most beneficial when
they are general, covering main topics and important
points.
3. READ
Break the material into sections that will take about 20
minutes to read (often the chapter is already broken into
sections which will work just fine). Read the material
section by section. Look for answers to your questions, key
concepts, and supporting details. Study charts, graphs,
tables, and pictures. These can serve to present new
information as well as tie together concepts from the
reading.
4. RESPOND
After each section, think about the material you have
just read and answer the questions you have asked. This
can be done at the same time as the reading step, since
often response is automatic. The main point of this step is
to think about the material, and take notice of what is
important.
5. RECORD
Go back and underline key concepts and take notes. This
can be done on a separate sheet of paper, on note cards,
in the margins of the textbook, or any way that works
well for you. (Do this after each section.)
6. RECITE
Next, look away from the material and try to recite the
key information and ideas. Put the material in your own
words and go back and re-read until you feel comfortable
with it. This may be frustrating at first, but it will lead to
better understanding and save you review time in the long
run. (Do this after each section.)
7. REVIEW
After completing the entire chapter, scan back over the
reading and review the information aloud or in your head.
Talk about the material with a classmate if possible. Try
to identify overall themes and relationships between
concepts. Make any necessary revisions of your notes or
markings so they can be easily understood later.
Now that you know about the SQ5R method for
reading textbooks, the next step is to use this
strategy while reading your next assignment.
Some additional strategies you may want to
implement, provided by the writing center of
Cleveland State University:
PREPARE TO BECOME PART OF THE
WRITER'S AUDIENCE
After all, authors design texts for specific audiences, and
becoming a member of the target audience makes it easier
to get at the author's purpose. Learn about the author,
the history of the author and the text, the author's
anticipated audience; read introductions and notes.
PREPARE TO READ WITH AN OPEN MIND
Critical readers seek knowledge; they do not "rewrite" a
work to suit their own personalities. Your task as an
enlightened critical reader is to read what is on the page,
giving the writer a fair chance to develop ideas and
allowing yourself to reflect thoughtfully, objectively, on
the text.
CONSIDER THE TITLE
This may seem obvious, but the title may provide
clues to the writer's attitude, goals, personal
viewpoint, or approach.
READ SLOWLY
Again, this appears obvious, but it is a factor in a
"close reading." By slowing down, you will make more
connections within the text.
USE THE DICTIONARY AND OTHER
APPROPRIATE REFERENCE WORKS
If there is a word in the text that is not clear or
difficult to define in context, look it up. Every word is
important, and if part of the text is thick with
technical terms, it is doubly important to know how the
author is using them.
MAKE NOTES
Jot down marginal notes, underline and highlight, write
down ideas in a notebook, do whatever works for your
own personal taste. Note for yourself the main ideas,
the thesis, and the author's main points to support the
theory. Writing while reading aids your memory in many
ways, especially by making a link that is unclear in the
text concrete in your own writing.
KEEP A READING JOURNAL
In addition to note taking, it is often helpful to
regularly record your responses and thoughts in a more
permanent place that is yours to consult. By developing
a habit of reading and writing in conjunction, both skills
will improve.
THANK YOU!

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