This document outlines the key differences between non-critical and critical reading. A non-critical reader accepts a text's statements as facts, while a critical reader recognizes that a text only provides one perspective of the facts. Critical reading involves analyzing an author's purpose, tone, persuasive elements, and biases. It also means questioning what is directly stated and what can be inferred versus what cannot be inferred. The document provides an example statement and discusses what can be inferred from it and what cannot as well as how word choice impacts meaning. It emphasizes that critical reading requires deep analysis of even short texts.

1. RDG 101 – Summer 2014
Dr. Cheryl Novins

2.  To non-critical readers, texts provide FACTS.
Readers gain knowledge by memorizing the
statements within a text.
 To the critical reader, any single text provides
but one portrayal of the facts, one
individual’s “take” on the subject matter.
Critical readers thus recognize not only WHAT
a text says, but also HOW the author conveys
the message.

3. 1. To recognize an author’s purpose
2. To understand tone and persuasive
elements
3. To recognize bias

4. 1. Recognizing purpose involves inferring a
basis for choices of content and language.
2. Recognizing tone and persuasive elements
involve classifying the nature of the author’s
language choices
3. Recognizing bias involves classifying the
nature of the patterns of choice of content
and language.

5. Consider the following statement:
“The Senator admitted owning the gun that
killed his wife.”
What can be inferred by this statement?
 There is a Senator.
 He owns a gun.
 He is married.
 His wife is dead.
 That gun caused her death.
 The Senator admitted owning that gun.

6. Now, what can’t be inferred?
 We do not necessarily know if the Senator’s
admission is true!
 We do not really know whether the Senator is
in any way responsible for his wife’s death,
nor do we know that she died of a gunshot
wound!
 We do not even know if it was murder – it
might have been suicide or an accicent!

7. Critical reading includes analyzing an author’s
word choice.
 Would it have mattered if the author used the
word STATED or the word SAID rather than
the word ADMITTED?
 What connotation/denotation does the word
ADMITTED have in the English language?
 Does the word ADMITTED make the reader
wonder if the Senator lied about something
previously?

8. This is just one sentence!
Imagine how analytical critical
readers must be when they read
longer text!

9.  You will be given the opportunity to be a
critical reader.
 This skill will enable you to get more meaning
out of everything you read as well as help you
navigate different types of texts.
 As your professor, I will work hard to keep
the readings interesting and thought-
provoking.
 As the student, your job is to keep up with
your work and share our ideas and become
part of the class community here on
Blackboard.