CRWT 111: Critical Reading & Text Analysis

• The text includes notes for CRWT 111, Lesson 1, including an approach for critical reading, objectivity, denotative meaning, reading, vocabulary, and goals and challenges in reading.
• Lesson 2 addresses the nature of a text.
• Lesson 3 presents steps to critical reading.
• Lesson 4 describes reading strategies for critical thinkers.

Critical Reading

• Critical reading involves engaging with the material through evaluation, not just reflecting on the content.
• Involves raising logical, reasoned arguments to analyze and evaluate the text.
• Curiosity is a prerequisite for discovery in critical reading.
• Critical readers consider the author's interpretation before verifying.

Key Aspects of Text

• A reader should interpret and explain main points in their own words.
• Readers should also use described key points to create examples and compare texts on the same topic.
• Interpretation involves analyzing the text objectively, in parts and as a whole.

Objectivity

• Objectivity uses facts and evidence and differentiates critical reading from reading for leisure.

Denotative Meaning

• Denotative meaning is understanding the literal meaning behind words.

Reading

• Reading is recognizing and understanding the meaning of written words.

Vocabulary

• Vocabulary is the body of words known by definition or application.

Goals of Reading

• Reading has academic/professional, entertainment, and knowledge-seeking goals.

Challenges in Reading

• Social media and fake news present a challenge to learning.
• Memorization without understanding is problematic due to potential for forgetting.
• Early learners recognize literal meanings before figurative ones.
• Memorization is considered the lowest form of intelligence.

Adapting a Healthy Attitude in Reading

• Equipping oneself with tools makes learning convenient and less tiresome, fostering a positive attitude.
• Assessing the author's background helps establish credibility.

Nature of Text: Questions to Raise

• Understanding the nature of the text helps with topic comprehension.
• Important starting questions include:
  • What is the title?
  • Does it reflect the topic?
  • What details, style or argument are expected?
  • What is your existing knowledge of the topic?
  • Are there any gaps or grey areas?
  • Is background reading needed?
• These answers are often found on book covers, prefaces, tables of contents, and synopses.

Stakeholders in the Issue

• Key stakeholders include those concerned, those who control the result, key decision-makers/contributors, and those affected.

Analyzing the Author and Publisher

• Understanding author biases can be aided by prior knowledge.
• It is useful to consider:
  • Author's background
  • Author's goals in writing
  • Publication date
  • Publication location
  • Publisher

Academic vs. Non-Academic Texts

• Academic texts are written by experts, peer-reviewed and not self-published
• They use formal language and technical jargon, and the authors' credentials build credibility.
• References support the information's veracity and the texts are systematically researched and written.
• Academic articles undergo strict peer-review processes and are considered primary sources, but are only valid after peer review.
• ISBN and ISSN are not commonly seen in academic texts.
• Non-academic are written for the mass public and can be written and published quickly by anyone.
• Authorship is not based on credentials, references are optional, validity range is longer, and creativity is favored over credibility.
• They are considered conceptual references with longer validity ranges that don't need to be revised or updated, and are considered secondary sources.

References & Citations

• References help to ascertain the credibility of the text.
• Citations mark where the information comes from.

Other Sections

• The bionote is a section where the author's achievements and background are briefly explained.
• The preface introduces the book.
• Academic texts are placed in the "background" in the review of related studies.
• Typesetting academic articles involves changing the layout and the text elements in accordance with the policies of the publishing company.

DOI

• DOI (Digital Object Identifier) identifies articles after they are published in journals.

Developing Critical Reading as a Habit

• To develop critical reading as a habit, you need to learn and discover new things with a compelling reason to stick with it to develop yourself and achieve competitiveness.

Strategies for Reading Habits

• Prioritize reading by scheduling it.
• Find good-value informative books that are worth reading for their substance and knowledge.
• Plan your reading habit with a daily schedule.
• Don't limit your reading. Read as much and often as possible.
• Read early in the morning when the mind is clear and the body is relaxed.
• Use speed reading to cover more material faster.

Quantity-Based Reading

• Quantity-based reading focuses on a specific number of pages regardless of the time frame.

The Critical Reading Process: Steps

Step 1: Analyze components

• Identify and ponder components:
  • Underline instructional words (discuss, explain, identify, justify).
  • Mark keywords and key phrases.
  • Be mindful of organizational patterns (compare/contrast, cause/effect, list, spatial, chronological, etc.).
  • Evaluate question validity and requirements.

Step 2: Practice pre-reading activities

• Scan the text for:
  • Author information (credentials, reputation, bias)
  • Nature of the text (current, authoritative, subjective/objective).
  • Highlight main ideas and keywords:
    • Read titles, synopses, abstracts, headings/subheadings, and graphical representations.
    • Read the introduction, first few paragraphs, and conclusion.

Step 3: Listing questions

• Connect text content to research questions and list questions about the article or report content.

Step 4: Taking Notes

• Take notes that are concise & in your own words.
• Pay attention to citations and references.
• Note arguments raised, summarize major parts (intro, body, conclusion), and record important quotes with page numbers.
• Write down keywords and form questions to help you write a summary of the text.

Step 5: Evaluate the text

• Evaluate the text by asking questions on the value of the research evaluation questions.
• Has the article/report fulfilled its purpose?
• Is the argument asserted and supported by evidence?
• Is the research valid, logically developed, and evidence-based?
• Are recommendations appropriate and do they advance knowledge?
• What are the underlying assumptions and are they reasonable?

Step 6: Making a Mind Map

• Create a mind map from memoy, noting main ideas, supporting evidence, and evaluations. Identify gaps in your memory.

Step 7: Consolidate knowledge

• Summarize the text in preparation for writing your assignment by making another mind map, noting headings, evidence, and your evaluation.

Key Aspects of Text

• Abstracts & synopses are summaries.
• Major parts of the text are:
  • Introduction
  • Body
  • Conclusion

Glossary and Citation

• A glossary is a list of words and definitions used in the text.
• A citation tells where the information comes from.
• A reference locates the source and the specific information.

Knowledge gaps

• Knowledge gaps are grey areas in the comprehension process.

Effective Steps for Note-Taking

• Highlighting and emphasizing highlights key words or phrases in the text.
• Making written notes involves writing the content of your reading, plus your reactions to the content.

Paraphrasing

• Recommended when note taking
• Validating information presented in a text can be considered a healthy critical reading habit.

Forms and Styles for Notes

• Use linear notes, diagrammatic notes , and patterns help you to remember the underlying information.

• Organizational Patterns: Use transitional words to coordinate thoughts

Reviewing and Revising Notes

• Separate themes and ideas using headings or different sheets, and highlight key points using colored pens or flags.
• Note where your opinions changed, and why.

Organizing your Notes

• Ensure that notes are well-organized, and you can find what you want when you need it.

Reading Strategies for Critical Thinkers

• Critical reading is necessary since much knowledge comes through reading.

Strategies to improve comprehension:

• Improve vocabulary: Read widely and use a dictionary constantly.
• Manage your reading comprehension skills by noticing words, phrases, or sentences that you do not fully understand or confuse you.
• Improve your reading speed by reading with your eyes and mind.
• Apply the SQ3R Method:
  • Survey the entire chapter before you start reading.
  • Question Turn the subheadings into questions before proceeding to read.
  • Read Start reading only when you can concentrate and commit to it.
  • Review/Recite.

Other reading techniques:

• Do skimming: speed reading strategy that it is recommended before performing detailed reading of text.
• Do scanning: Passing the vision speedily over a selection of text to find specific words or phrases.
• Make inferences: It is a comprehension strategy used by proficient readers to "read between the lines," make connections, and draw conclusions the text's meaning and purpose.

Mnemonic Devices

• Mnemonic devices are learning techniques that aid information retention or retrieval in the human memory.