Chapter 2 Becoming a Critical Reader

This chapter will help you put into practice the strategies of mindful and reflective questioning introduced in Chapter 1 “Writing to Think and Writing to Learn.” After surveying a Note 2.5 “Gallery of Web-Based Texts,” you will learn what can be accomplished from using critical thinking methods when reading texts closely and carefully. You will also see how a single text can be opened up through careful and close reading as a model for what can be done with texts from a wide variety of media and genres. You’ll learn to be attentive to not only what a text is trying to say but also how it is saying it. By deepening your understanding of the interactions among self, text, and context, you’ll come to appreciate how crucial your role in the critical reading process is, not only to your comprehension, but also to your genuine enjoyment of any text.