Critical reading means reading a text not only to detect the information it provides, but also to analyse, understand, question, and interpret the information contained within it. Critical readers try to understand the point of view of the author, and to find the purpose of the text, drawing conclusions based on one’s own prior experience and knowledge of the cultural background.
The challenge for learners of a foreign language is to combine the development of both critical reading skills and language competence. Critical reading is vital for language learners as it helps engage with the text and enhance both language skills and cultural awareness.
Technology Required
Computer, Internet
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this task you will be able to:
- analyse characteristics of written language
- distinguish between formal and colloquial written language
- identify and critique politeness and correctness of online conversations
Procedure
- Search online for a newspaper article that is of interest to you. Choose one with a number of reader comments.
- Compare the style of the comments to the style of the article.
- What differences do you notice?
- Which is more formal, and how do you determine the degree of formality?
- Identify the tone of the comments:
- do you see polite/impolite remarks?
- What constitutes im/politeness?
- What do you consider inappropriate and why?
Next steps
Being able to gauge the reliability of information found online is a fundamental part of Information Literacy, while being able to search for and evaluate online sources in order to determine the validity of the content is an essential part of Search Literacy.
