Question

Why is critical reading important? What is the difference between critical reading and recreational reading? Why is it necessary to use specific reading techniques to read critically?

Answer 1

Critical reading is very much different from recreational reading because it requires attentive and active attention, ability to read between the lines and focus on identifying the intention of the author but recreational reading is just reading for pleasure and for time pass. Critical reading focuses on not just the texts but also the symbolic meaning and other socio-cultural factors that motivates the author to write. Critical reading requires one to take a neutral stand and analyze the text without any biases. In order to read a text critically, one needs to use some strategies such as skimming where one just runs through the text and identify the main points and at times, one uses scanning where one pays attention to details. There is also global inference where one critically analyze a text and includes one’s own views.

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