Reading Critically Summary

Critical reading takes a lot of work and effort, but you shouldn't try too hard to suck in every detail of a piece on your first reading of it. However, when you do attempt to read critically, there is a process you should go through. Examining the title, any information about the author, and where and when the work was published can help give you a preliminary idea as to what the essay will be about, and will aid in your understanding of the piece. It helps if you hold a writing utensil or highlighter while you read, so that you can annotate and make notes on the essay, such as circling words you don't understand or adding personalized comments about what the piece is talking about. Summarizing the content of an essay can also aid in your understanding by chopping the reading down into manageable chunks. Doing a conscious analysis of what you are reading can also bolster your understanding of the piece, including making inferences and synthesizing ideas. You might also evaluate the work's quality after reading it.