Academic Guides: Academic Skills Center: Critical Reading

JUNE 2021

Reading Skills Part 1: Set Yourself Up for Success

"While - like many of us - I enjoy reading what I want to read, I still struggle to get through a dense research article or textbook chapter. I have noticed, however, that if I take steps to prepare, I am much more likely to persist through a challenging reading. "

JUNE 2021

Reading Skills Part 2: Alternatives to Highlighting

"It starts with the best of intentions: trusty highlighter in hand or (for the tech-savvy crowd) highlighting tool hovering on-screen, you work your way through an assigned reading, marking only the most important information—or so you think."

JUNE 2021

Reading Skills Part 3: Read to Remember

"It’s happened to the best of us: on Monday evening, you congratulate yourself on making it though an especially challenging reading. What a productive start to the week!"

In our efforts to save time, we often neglect critical first steps, sacrificing reading efficiency and comprehension for a few extra minutes. Sometimes called previewing or pre-reading, the steps we take before reading can help us read more quickly and efficiently (think: less re-reading), improve understanding, and sustain focus.

JUNE 2020

Reading a Research Article Assigned as Coursework

"Reading skills are vital to your success at Walden. The kind of reading you do during your degree program will vary, but most of it will involve reading journal articles based on primary research."

FEBRUARY 2020

Critical Reading for Evaluation

"Whereas analysis involves noticing, evaluation requires the reader to make a judgment about the text’s strengths and weaknesses. Many students are not confident in their ability to assess what they are reading."

FEBRUARY 2020

Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison

"Critical reading generally refers to reading in a scholarly context, with an eye toward identifying a text or author’s viewpoints, arguments, evidence, potential biases, and conclusions."

This was great. I have just started my doctoral program today and I already feel surrounded by helpful people and tools. Your article is highly appreciated.
-Jean-Pierre Abedi,
Comment, Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison

Pre-Reading Strategies

Sometimes called previewing or pre-reading, the steps we take before reading can help us read more quickly and efficiently, improve understanding, and sustain focus. Use the template below to start your pre-reading.

Pre-reading Strategies (Word)
Pre-reading Strategies (PDF)

Triple Entry Notebook

The triple entry notebook template below is a simple, organized way to practice active reading. Keeping a triple entry notebook ensures that we take the time to cycle through these three stages as we read.

Triple Entry Notebook Template (Word)
Triple Entry Notebook Template (PDF)
Triple Entry Notebook Template - Example (PDF)

Critical Thinking

Use this checklist to practice critical thinking while reading an article, watching an advertisement, or making an important purchase or voting decision.

Critical Reading Checklist (Word) Critical Reading Checklist (PDF) Critical Thinking Bookmark (PDF)