We are inundated by endless floods of information every day of our lives. No matter what field you work in, news articles, business reports, research papers and more demand your attention every day. Managing this content overload can seem like a formidable task, but there are efficient ways to systematize what you read and retain valuable information.

Why critical reading?

Mastering your reading is a key skill that enables you to think critically and clearly about any subject matter. Reading is a process of discovery. When we read, we are in a symbiotic relationship with the author and together we create new meaning and new knowledge together.

A critical reader reads between the lines with the aim of developing a deep understanding of the material and discovering information and ideas – whether it is fiction or nonfiction. The process becomes one of analyzing and evaluating what you are reading as you make your way through the text or as you reflect back upon your reading. It is a careful, active, and reflective act.

The link between critical reading and critical thinking

Critical reading and critical thinking work together. By following a strategy for critical reading, you can identify the strengths and weaknesses of an argument or an approach and develop a new way forward.

We read critically to develop the ability to think critically. Critical thinking is a technique for evaluating information and ideas, for deciding what to accept and believe, based on our existing knowledge and understanding of the world.  

Critical thinking means asking probing questions like “How do we know?” or “Is this true in every case or just in this instance?” It involves being skeptical and challenging assumptions rather than simply accepting what we hear or read.

The SQ3R method

On my journey to becoming a critical thinker, I have found that there are ways to more fully develop and fine-tune your skills. One approach that has worked well for me is the SQ3R reading comprehension method named for its five steps: survey, question, read, recite, and review.

Through this sequence, we can increase our understanding of the text by engaging in the reading process, both before, during, and after, intentionally. It is an approach that has helped me to glean as much information as possible from any text that I read.

• Survey (S): Start by reviewing the text to gain an initial understanding of it. If it is a book, look at the front and back covers and the table of contents. Pay attention to the most obvious elements on the pages, such as headings, bold text, bullet points, and graphics. By surveying the text, a pattern will emerge and provide a broad framework to help your brain subconsciously understand the material and how information is presented in the text.
• Question (Q): Start asking questions about the content of the text. Write down questions based on chapter titles and subheadings. For example, you could convert headings into questions, or create more generic questions about the subject of the text. There is no need to answer those questions yet, as the answers will become clear while you read. Remember that writing questions down will help to improve your memory and retention.
• Read (R1): As you engage with the text, you will be able to do so more actively, because of the preliminary work you have already done in the two previous steps. The questions you have thought about will help to guide your reading and keep you focused. After a first read, return to the text with a pencil, re-read carefully and make notes.
• Recite (R2) or Recall: When we verbalize written material, we create a memory of it in our brain. As you move through the text, recite or rehearse the answers to your initial questions, using your own words. This can be done verbally or in written form. The aim is to support the personal interpretation of the content. Talk to a friend or colleague about your reading to help you remember it. Think about whether you agree or disagree with the author and why.
• Review (R3): After you have completed the reading, review the content of the text by repeating to yourself what the main ideas of the text were, in your own words. This review will be the sixth time you are looking at the material. By now you will know the main points and the structure of the writing, and you will know your reaction and attitude to the material. Together with the writer, you will have become an expert on the material and created new knowledge.

This method of critical reading has helped me to understand any reading, including the most simple topics. It has increased my engagement with my reading, as well as my enjoyment, by helping me to think critically about what I am reading, rather than being a passive observer. In these ways, SQ3R is enabling me to co-create new knowledge.