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Critical reading means reading actively, instead of passively. Critical readers use their active reading skills to analyze, compare, and evaluate texts. 

What Does it Mean to Read Actively?

Active reading is different from passive reading in that it requires readers to dig beyond the surface-level details of a text. Instead of simply reading the words on a page and not thinking much about them, active readers engage meaningfully with texts, asking questions, taking notes, making connections, and drawing conclusions. Here are some tips for becoming a more active reader:  

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Pre-Read

Pre-reading refers to the steps you take before you even start reading. Spending a few minutes previewing a text’s title and major headings can help improve reading efficiency and comprehension. Reviewing the assignment questions or coming up with a list of your own can also help you read more actively by establishing a sense of purpose. 

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Take Notes 

To read actively, take notes as you read, summarizing key points, drawing connections to other texts you’ve read or to your own experience, and answering questions you may  

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Summarize  

After reading, review your notes and put them away. Then, using your own words, write a brief summary of what you read, focusing on main ideas and significant findings. Summarizing helps you to digest what you’ve read, improving comprehension.  

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Quick Tip

Reading actively, instead of passively, not only helps you become a more engaged reader—it also helps you to read more efficiently, saving time and improving comprehension. Because active readers engage with texts, making meaningful connections and taking notes, they are more likely to remember and truly understand what they read. When the deadline for an assignment or project approaches, they won’t need to waste time re-reading.

Learn More About Active Reading


What is Critical Reading?

Critical reading, a form of active reading, means asking questions that assess the validity of a text or author’s viewpoints, arguments, evidence, and conclusions. It often involves these three skills:

To analyze means to break a text down into smaller parts to better understand how those parts work together to create meaning. In reading to analyze, you might ask these questions:

  • Who is the intended audience of the text?
  • What is the author's purpose in writing?
  • What's the main point and what evidence is used to support it?
  • How was the study conducted?
  • What is the author's tone?

To compare means to examine a text for its similarities and differences to other texts on the same topic.  In reading to compare, you might ask these questions:

  • How do the audience and purpose compare between these sources?
  • How does the evidence in each article reinforce or contradict each other?
  • How do the studies' methods compare?
  • What conclusions have different authors reached on the topic?

To evaluate means to assess a text’s strengths and weaknesses, especially in terms of its accuracy, potential bias, and credibility. In reading to evaluate, you might ask questions like these:

  • Who is the author, and who is the publisher?
  • When was the work published?
  • What kinds of sources does the author include as evidence?
  • Is the author effectively writing to their audience?
  • Does the evidence support the conclusions that are made?
  • Is the research method appropriate for the study?

Learn More About Critical Reading Strategies

Reading for Analysis and Comparison

Review this resource to learn more about reading for analysis and comparison.

Reading for Analysis and Comparison

Reading for Evaluation

To learn more about reading to evaluate a text’s validity and credibility, check out this resource.

Critical Reading for Evaluation

Literature Review Matrix

If you are reading a number of texts, a literature review matrix can help you organize, analyze, evaluate, and compare your research.

Literature Review Matrix

Key Takeaways

Critical reading is a form of active reading that requires readers to do more than simply absorb information. Reading actively means asking questions, taking notes, and making connections before, during, and after you read. Reading critically means posing questions that analyze a text’s meaning, draw comparisons to other texts on the same topic, and evaluate the validity of an author’s argument and evidence.

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Related Resources

Critical reading is a challenging skill developed over time. For more practice, try this interactive guide.

Read Critically