L4 Critical Reading Strategies in Literature

Critical Reading

The process of actively engaging with a text to evaluate its purpose, tone, evidence, and meaning.

Previewing

Gathering essential information about a text before reading it, such as the author’s background, publication context, and organizational structure.

Annotating

The act of marking a text by underlining, highlighting, or making notes to identify key ideas, unfamiliar words, or personal responses.

Contextualizing

Considering the historical, cultural, or biographical background of a text to better understand its meaning.

Outlining

Identifying the basic structure and main ideas of a text to clarify how concepts are connected.

Summarizing

Restating the essential ideas of a text in your own words to confirm understanding.

Analyzing

Examining the evidence, arguments, and structure of a text to evaluate its credibility and relevance.

Rereading

Revisiting a text multiple times to uncover deeper meaning and identify details missed during the first reading.

Responding

Drawing meaning from a text and expressing your thoughts through writing or discussion.