Reading Critically

In this passage, the author dexcribes a certain way to read that will benefit the reader's understanding of the text. To read critically, the first step is to find a quiet place to read without any distractions like TV or music. Before you start reading a piece of writing you can take in the information that is given to you already, like the title, which can reveal the author's tone, purpose, subject, method, or thesis. It is also a good idea to try and think of all the information that you know about the author because this will help you guess something about the writing before you even start reading. Looking at where a work is found can tell you who the piece's audience is as well. Knowing when the piece was written can also give you some insight to understanding it. Once you start reading, if you come across a word that you don't know, you shouldn't stress about it. Try to figure out what it means from its context. Also, if you read with a pencil, you can circle the words you don't know, as well as marking up the writing with your thoughts or questions about the text. After reading a work, you should summarize it to be sure that you understand it. Critical thinking includes operations such as analysis, inference, synthesis, and evaluation. It will also help you to ask questions about the work like, "What is the writer's purpose?" These questions will help you better understand a work of literature.