IF YOU TAKE TIME to list all the reading you do in the course of a day, you will no doubt find that you are reading a lot—and that you are reading both in print and onscreen. For a long time, most people have thought of reading as, well, just plain reading. But the digital revolution has helped us see that we actually read in many different ways for many different reasons—and using different tools and media. Being a strong reader today means understanding these differences and learning to use them to your advantage.

In addition to thinking carefully about how you read, reading critically means questioning, commenting, analyzing, and reflecting thoughtfully on a text—whether it’s a white paper for a psychology class, a graphic novel, a Super Bowl ad, a business email, or a YouTube video. Any method you use to keep track of your questions and make yourself concentrate on a text can help you become a better critical reader.