"Reading Critically"

When critically reading an essay you first make inferences based on the title, your knowledge of the author, when it was published, and where it was published. This helps you to have an idea of the style and content of the essay before you begin reading. During the first reading just listen to what the author is trying to say. While you are reading make annotations on the essay. You then want to summarize what you have read and start thinking critically. Analyze, make inferences, synthesize, evaluate, and discover the meaning next when reading an essay. Think about the visual images in your head when you read it, think about how the author's writing strategy exceeded, and analyze the language. After doing all of these things you will have read an essay critically.