Why do I need to read actively and critically?

People who read actively and critically are better able to use the information they obtain from reading because they learn how the facts are related, and how facts are related to knowledge they already have. They detect faulty or illogical statements, and they understand and remember more.

How do I read?

During the reading process, you can use a number of basic skills to help you understand what you read. The basic skills are related to reading actively and reading critically. Most people can improve these skills by practicing reading a variety of different materials. The basic skills are listed below. Each skill will explained in more detail in the “Basic Reading Skills Section.”

• Finding the main idea
• Finding facts and details
• Finding sequences and patterns
• Using context clues
• Making inferences
• Making logical conclusions
• Sorting facts from opinions

Reading actively and critically will not only help you understand what you read, but it will also help you remember what you read. Many people use other skills and strategies to help them remember.