When you practice critical reading, you apply your critical thinking skills to your reading. To do this, you need to read actively, paying close attention to the text and asking yourself questions about the author’s purpose, his or her main point, the support he or she gives, and how good that support is. It is important to think critically as you read, looking out for assumptions and biases (both the writer’s and your own). You should also consider whether you agree or disagree with the points being made.

Here are the four steps of the critical reading process: