CRITICAL READING

Reading at the tertiary level requires more than just basic comprehension skills. In addition to the above skill, university students must be able to read textbooks, articles etc. critically. Development of your critical reading skills is necessary if your are to be as successful in university (and after university) as you can be. Reading critically means evaluating, judging what you read. Efficient reading for comprehension requires that you read beyond what is stated in the text. You have to try to follow the writer’s thoughts and go beyond it and refer to your own prior knowledge (though this not always the case). High-comprehension reading requires that you question, compare, and evaluate as you read. E.L. Thorndike stated that “Reading Is Thinking”. When you read you have to tune to the writer’s thoughts and follow his line of thoughts. You must be mentally alert as a writer does not often think in a linear pattern. There are strategies/skills that you can apply in order to be able to read critically. These skills will enable you to determine the value of works that you read and whether you should accept or reject the ideas, or seek additional information.