Critical reading means reading a text carefully and thinking deeply about it, not just understanding the words. It is about asking questions, analyzing ideas, and judging whether the information is reliable or not. A critical reader does not accept everything as true; instead, they look for evidence, logic, and clarity in the text.
For example, when you read an article, critical reading helps you to:
Identify the writer’s purpose.
Recognize bias or opinion.
Evaluate the strength of arguments.
Compare the text with your own knowledge or other sources.