analysis in reading

What is Analytical Reading and Why You Need It

If you’re looking to achieve a little more than just a couple of hours of relaxation from your reading sessions, you probably already know a little about reading strategies and other techniques that are meant to enhance your comprehension and information retention levels. One of the most popular and efficient reading and learning techniques is analytical reading.

What is analytical reading and how should you use it to properly enhance your reading experience and performance? Part of our mission here at Basmo is to help you become the ultimate reader. And while that can mean completely different things depending on what your goals are, it’s important for us to provide you with all the information you can possibly need.

What is analytical reading?

Analytical reading is defined as a high-level cognitive skill and a reading strategy that serves the purpose of probing more deeply to comprehend both the message and the intent or ultimate goal of the text at hand.

Basic comprehension is just one component of good reading skills. Going from simply reading as a form of entertainment to actually maximizing your potential and extracting maximum value from the time you spend with a book in your hand is no easy task.

Whether you do your analytical reading as part of a school assignment where you need to dissect a text and recognize its true meaning and everything the author is trying to suggest, as part of your general reading routine because you are dedicated to analyzing your books and extracting all the necessary information from them, or simply as part of your job, this skill is, without a doubt, one of the most important ones for a reader.

Along with syntopical reading , analytical reading is one of the most important reading skills that one can possess.

Why is analysis important in reading?

The importance of analytical thinking in reading and writing has much deeper roots than you might expect. Reading analytically can help readers gain a deeper understanding of the text at hand, extract the true ideas, understand its structure and meaning, and analyze it critically, thus drawing the right conclusions about it.

Needless to say, this entire process has several benefits for those who make the effort to apply it to their reading sessions. For starters, it is a good way to make sure that you get the most rewarding reading experience.

Another benefit of reading analytically is the fact that you will have much better comprehension and retention levels at the end of your reading session. Granted, the process does take time and you will go through a lot fewer pages within the same timeframe than you would when reading passively , but the value you will be extracting from those few pages will be undeniably a lot higher.

The analytical reading definition does mention that it is a high-level cognitive skill, but what does that actually mean? Well, it means that it can only be achieved by readers with a high degree of proficiency in reading. And there is actually a causality relationship between reading proficiency and analytical reading skills: the only way to become a proficient reader is through text analysis and the higher the proficiency level of the reader, the more accurate the analysis will be.

On top of this amazing skill you will develop, there are also benefits for your brain’s health that are worth mentioning. As you know, reading is a mentally challenging activity that results in good brain health, better memory, and delayed onset of cognitive disorders among other things. Well, as you would imagine, reading analytically is a lot more difficult and therefore a lot more effective in providing your brain with an intense and effective workout. If reading is the equivalent of cardio for your brain, analytical reading is a tough session of lifting weights.

Want to start reading more? Try Basmo book tracker today!

Basmo can easily help you set and reach your reading early goals. It’s super easy to use and 100% free to download, so what have you got to lose?

What are some analytical reading examples?

Some examples might shed some much needed light on analytical reading as a concept. To better understand what analytical reading is and how it is done, let’s assume you are given the task to read a book analytically. To actually prove that you have done, by the time the book is finished, you should be able to do the following:

Categorize the book according to genre, type, subject, and themes
Be able to present the essential information about the book with utmost brevity
Be able to create a clear outline of the essential parts of the book in the correct order and relation
Identify and define the author’s intentions, techniques, and the problems they are trying to solve

While things might differ from one task to another, this example is the most eloquent when it comes to understanding what the final purpose of analytical reading is.

What are the analytical reading strategies?

Analytical reading as a strategy is the result of a series of techniques that need to be applied. There are several important steps that go into reading analytically and you will need to know and understand them well before you will be successful in analytical reading.

Before reading a challenging text, you should read the introduction and conclusion, then scan the headings and structure to find the main points and justifications for those points. Why is this important? It should be done to make reading easier and to help bring the main ideas in context. Learning this skill as part of your inspectional reading strategy is going to give your reading habits and level of proficiency a considerable boost.

There are a couple of steps in skimming that should not be missed:

Consider why you should read this. (What makes me read it? Which genre does it belong to?)
While reading the introduction and summary, search for the thesis.
Look for important ideas, bolded phrases, and section titles in the text.
Go through each section’s opening sentences.
Describe your working summary (thesis and primary arguments) for yourself.

Reading analytically involves a deep level of understanding of the entire piece of content you are going through. When reading challenging portions, take your time, reread the text, and pause until you can sum it up in one or two phrases for yourself. Doing this is essential to ensure comprehension of challenging concepts before moving on.

The important steps of re-reading are:

Go back and read the passage slowly, finding the last part of it you fully understood.
Read the paragraph once more slowly (perhaps out loud).
List any terms you don’t understand and do some research on them.
Look over any ideas that were supported previously in the text.
Continue until you can sum up the whole passage in one or two sentences for yourself.

Integration

This part refers to associating the newly acquired information with the knowledge you already possess. You should recognize central concepts, assess what else you know or have read about those ideas, and weigh similarities and differences whenever you come across a central thought or when an idea reminds you of something else.

Doing this encourages greater comprehension and improves the quality of your reading experience. These are the important steps and questions you should keep in mind:

Begin by listing the main ideas and assertions.
In what other books have you come across similar ideas and concepts?
How are the concepts or assertions used in comparable ways?
How do the various applications of the ideas or assertions differ?

Take notes on the text with your favorite method ( annotating , taking separate notes, or highlighting ) when a passage excites you, fascinates you, or is simply important to remember.

Taking notes keeps you interested in the content and aids with memory retention. Here are the main note-taking and annotating methodologies:

The Cornell Method : Create two columns on a separate sheet of paper, allowing some room at the bottom. Make a list of the main points from the book or passage in the right hand column (your notes). Find the essential words for those thoughts in the left-hand column (your cues). Write a short summary of the paragraph at the end.
Jeff’s Method : This is just a modified Cornell Method, using the left-hand column for queries and rebuttals. The author’s thoughts are listed in the right-hand column, and your thoughts should be listed in the left.
The Marginalia Method : Create a set of symbols to represent various reactions to the text, such as one for a query, one for a major point, and one for an idea you didn’t comprehend. Make notes in your text, expanding lengthy ideas where there is room or on a different piece of paper.

Argument mapping

Based on the significance of the passage and the ideas or arguments, create anything from a complete map of the argument to a mental recounting of its structure. When faced with an argument, especially one that is significant, you should always try to create a mental structure for that argument.

This will be a great process to assist you in recognizing the logical framework that supports the written structure.

The whole analytical process is generally quite a difficult one and represents a trade-off: you are generally going to need to compromise speed in order to achieve a good level of comprehension and the desired results from your analytical reading sessions. With Basmo, you can easily keep track of how analytical reading affects your speed and overall performance.

Our reading app tracks each session independently and analyzes your reading speed, session duration, and the number of pages you manage to go through within that specific timeframe. Once all this info becomes available to you and compiled in comprehensive performance reports, you will have a great overview of your reading habits and you will be one step closer to improving them.

Why is Basmo the ultimate tool for analytical reading?

Basmo is a reading tracking app with serious benefits for those of you who want to start implementing the analytical approach to reading. It was designed with the clear purpose of helping readers of all levels improve the quality of each individual reading session and their reading habits in general. Here’s how:

Basmo promotes better-organized reading habits . Having a calculated and well-organized approach when it comes to reading is a good idea in general. When it comes to reading analytically though, it is essential, and the explanation is quite simple: in order to succeed as an analytical reader, you need to have a calculated approach to your reading habits. And not only that but since analytical reading can be quite exhausting, you will need to make sure you give yourself reasonable timeframes to complete certain tasks and enough breaks so you don’t burn yourself out.

With that in mind, Basmo offers a highly customizable scheduling feature . It allows you to manually select specific days of the week for your reading sessions and also different times of day depending on your other routines. That way, you will know exactly when and for how long you are supposed to read in order to achieve your goals and the app will even remind you of the upcoming reading sessions.

Basmo allows you to jot everything down . Analytical reading is quite difficult to do without putting pen to paper, at least virtually. Taking notes, making annotations, highlighting the important parts of the text, and even keeping a reading journal are quite essential techniques that are a part of what analytical reading actually means.

With Basmo, you can easily do all of the above. Take notes while reading by simply starting a reading session, annotate and highlight books without damaging them by using the page scanner feature, and use the journaling feature to keep track of your reading and your progress toward your goals. It’s that easy.

With Basmo, your goals are clear and achievable . Whether you want to set goals for your analytical reading or all reading in general, Basmo offers you two different options. You can either choose to micro-manage your reading habits with a daily goal for the number of minutes you spend reading, or you can look at the big picture and select a goal for the number of books you want to go through within a year.

Final thoughts

What is analytical reading? It is, one of the highest of the four levels of reading and involves a tremendous degree of involvement. Dissecting a text and extracting even the last shred of useful information is hard work, but all the effort pays off in the end because the levels of comprehension and retention will be off the charts. Use Basmo to make sure you get the best experience and the best results.

Ready for the world’s first AI Chatbot for books? Start a chat with any book!

Get Basmo to experience the power of ChatGPT!

Image by storyset on Freepik

How to remember what you read.

How To Focus On Reading: 20 Easy Tips

How To Become a Better Reader in 2023 (in 12 Steps)

5 Strategies for Analyzing Texts

by Erin | Nov 15, 2019 | Reading , Strategies

In order for a reader to be able to read and understand a text there is a great deal of work that they must do in their head. As shared in The Importance of Strategies , readers use a variety of strategic actions and strategies to process what they are reading. Analyzing is one of twelve strategic action we will explore in this Strategic Action Series .

This post may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and love, or think my readers will find useful. Visit my disclosure statement for more information.

Strategies Change Over Time

When young children begin reading, they may use very simple strategies like memorizing or remembering the words in a story and reciting them as they see the pictures. As they learn more about letters, words, and books, they will begin using strategies like:

Pausing when something doesn’t make sense (self-monitoring)
Looking at the picture, thinking about the sentence, and looking at the first letters to make sure what they have read “looks right,” “sounds right,” and “makes sense.” (cross-checking sources of information)
Reread a word to read it correctly when they misread the word the first time. (self-correcting)

As young readers have more and more time to read and experience books, they develop their ability to use more sophisticated strategic actions as they read.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

It is important to note that readers use strategic actions simultaneously. Unfortunately, many children view them as separate actions or even as their goal of their reading. This may be the case if you’ve ever heard your child say, “This week I am inferring.” This happens when strategies are talked about in isolation or if your child does most of their strategy work with worksheets. Even though we may attempt to strengthen a strategic action by talking about it in isolation, it is always important to remind your child that they use many strategic actions and strategies to understand what we are reading.

Here is an example shared by Fountas and Pinnell in Guided Reading (2e)

A child who is monitoring her understanding of key words might solve one by taking it apart by syllables, connect to known words, gain insight into or infer the motives of a character, and predict what the character will do to resolve the problem she has analyzed .

Even though these actions are listed in a sequence, many take place simultaneously. Our brains can work so quickly and can do such much.

Now let’s take a look at Analyzing, a strategic action identified by Fountas and Pinnell ( Literacy Continuum , Expanded Edition, 2017).

Reading is not only about reading a text with accuracy and comprehension; readers also need to think analytically about the text. To analyze a text, readers look at the characteristics of a text (how a writer organized and crafted the text). Early readers can analyze texts by noticing how a writer or illustrator created a silly character. As readers become more sophisticated, readers will need to notice and understand the nuances of the writer’s craft.

To learn more about how we approach think about texts, visit this post: Develop Critical Thinking Skills and Analyze Texts – Start Young

Check out the Reading Level Specific Posts to see questions you can ask or prompts you can give to support your child’s use of this strategic action.

5 fantastic strategies to analyzing, 1. now what do you think.

Great for Reading Levels M and up

Strategy Steps

Gather several books on the same topic. (Librarians can be a great resource for this)
their word choice,
the images they choose,
the information they include or
the information they leave out.
Compare and contrast how the authors present the topic.
Now think, “what do I think about this topic?”

You can prompt your child to consider several authors’ perspectives by asking the following questions:

What is this author’s perspective on the topic?
How does this author present the topic compared to this one?
Do these authors present the topic in a different way? How?
Which idea do you think is more logical or persuasive?
Which idea can you back up with the most details?

2. What is the Author’s Purpose?

Great for Reading Levels O and up

Read the author’s bio and/or any information provided about the author on the back cover of the book.
After learning about the author, think about what this topic means to the author based on his or her background.
As you read the book, keep in mind the author’s background and think about what facts are being included and what facts are not included.
Fair/unfair
Right/wrong
Brave/coward
Cause, responsible

You can prompt your child to pay attention to the author’s purpose by asking the following questions:

What do you know about the author?
What does the author’s background tell you about ?
Do you see any opinion words?
Why do you think the author included the facts that he/she did?

3. Author’s Perspective

strategy steps.

Read the title.
Identify the topic ( bears, machines, etc. )
Read the first and last paragraph.
Then think, “What is the author’s perspective?” or “What is the author saying?”
Go back to the beginning of the text to read the whole text.
While you read the entire text, note the facts and details that connect with the main idea.
Consider whether or not you need to revise your main idea based on the facts and details you noticed in the text.

You can prompt your child to consider the author’s perspective by asking the following questions:

What words give you hints about the author’s perspective?
Think about the topic, what is an idea the author gives you about this topic?
After reading more, do you need to revise your main idea?
Do the details you read fit with the main idea?

4. To Whom is This Important?

Great for any Reading Levels M and up

After reading, consider what you think about the topic.
Write down what you think is the most important idea about this topic.
Next, write down what you think the author thinks is the most important idea.
Go back into the text and see which idea (yours or the author’s) is supported by more details in the text.

You can prompt your child to pay attention to the idea supported by the text by asking the following questions:

What do you think is the main idea?
What facts/details support that main idea?
Is that what this text is mostly about?
Do most of the details support that main idea?
What is different about your idea and what you think the author’s might be?

5. Tricky Persuasion

Great for Reading Levels P and up

Approach nonfiction texts knowing that sometimes the author is trying to convince you of an idea.
Talking right to you (the reader)
Asking you questions
Repeating the claim
Acting like your friend
Putting distance between you and others ( they, them, those )

You can prompt your child to recognize persuasion by asking the following questions:

Do you see anything that doesn’t look like a fact?
How is this information being presented?
What do you notice about the author’s word choice?
Who does the author seem to side with?
Do you notice any opinion words?

Check out these posts for more strategies to support strategic actions:

Searching for and Using Information
Solving words
Maintaining Fluency
Summarizing
Making Connections
Synthesizing
Monitoring and Self-correcting
Fountas, I. C., & Pinnell, G. S. (2017). Guided reading: Responsive teaching across the grades . Heinemann.
Pinnell, G. S., & Fountas, I. C. (2007). The Continuum of Literacy Learning, Grades K-8: Behaviors and Understandings to Notice, Teach, and Support. Heinemann .
Serravallo, J. (2015). The reading strategies book: Your everything guide to developing skilled readers (Vol. 11). Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Latest Posts

Latest posts by Erin ( see all )

10 Awesome Autumn Activities and 30 Books to Match - September 17, 2020
5 Outstanding Ways Grandparents can Engage with their Grandkids - September 12, 2020
8 Ways to Celebrate Read a Book Day - September 5, 2020

Please follow & like us :)

Analytical Reading Unleashed: Delve Into Deeper Comprehension

Consider this: Abraham Lincoln, one of the most revered U.S. presidents, was known for his insatiable appetite for reading and learning.

He would spend countless hours studying and analyzing texts, ultimately using the knowledge he gained to navigate the tumultuous times during his presidency.

Imagine how your life could change if you unlocked the same power of analytical reading as Lincoln did.

In this article, we’ll explore the world of analytical reading and discover how it can elevate our minds and improve our understanding of the world around us.

TLDR Summary

Analytical reading involves actively engaging with a text, evaluating the author’s intent, main arguments, and underlying assumptions, leading to deeper comprehension.
Developing analytical reading skills can enhance cognitive functions, such as attention, memory, and critical thinking , and promote overall brain health.
Key strategies for honing analytical reading skills include pre-reading, active reading, and post-reading techniques, like setting a purpose, notetaking, summarizing, and reflecting on the material.
Analytical reading is crucial in various contexts, from academia and professional development to leisure reading, and can boost creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Analytical reading enhances personal growth and self-discovery by introducing readers to diverse perspectives, promoting a deeper understanding of the world and encouraging intellectual curiosity.

What is Analytical Reading?

Analytical reading is the art of actively engaging with a text, dissecting its structure and content, and extracting its deeper meanings.

This is in contrast to passive reading, where the reader merely skims the surface of the material.

As the great writer and philosopher Francis Bacon once said,

“Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.”

In essence, analytical reading is that thorough digestion.

Components of Analytical Reading:

Evaluating the author’s intent
Identifying the author’s main arguments
Recognizing underlying assumptions
Drawing connections to other works

The Neuroscience Behind Analytical Reading

As a psychology dilettante, I can’t help but get excited when I consider the inner workings of the brain.

Analytical reading engages various cognitive functions, such as attention, memory, and critical thinking .

Research indicates that it can also enhance neural connections, leading to improved cognitive function and overall brain health.

So, not only are you becoming a more insightful reader, but you’re giving your brain a workout too.

Analytical Reading Strategies

Like a fine wine, analytical reading skills take time to develop.

Thankfully, there are numerous strategies that can help you hone these abilities…

Pre-reading Techniques

A) setting a purpose.

Before diving into a text, ask yourself why you’re reading it.

Is it to expand your knowledge or gain insights into a specific topic?

Establishing a purpose will help you focus your efforts and ensure you’re engaging with the text on a deeper level.

b) Inspecting the Material

Get a sense of the text’s structure by quickly scanning its headings, subheadings, and any illustrations.

This will give you a roadmap to follow as you delve into the material. This is also known as inspectional reading .

c) Formulating Questions

As the ancient philosopher Socrates so famously demonstrated, asking questions is a powerful tool for learning.

Develop a set of questions to guide your reading and keep you engaged with the material.

Active Reading Strategies

A) notetaking and highlighting.

As you read, take notes and highlight key points.

This not only helps you retain information but also allows you to easily revisit important concepts later.

b) Summarizing and Paraphrasing

Restate the author’s ideas in your own words.

This forces you to actively engage with the material and ensures you’re understanding the content on a deeper level.

c) Making Connections

Draw connections between the text and other works, historical events, or even your own experiences.

This will help you develop a more comprehensive understanding of the material.

Post-reading Strategies

A) reflecting on the material.

After completing the text, take a moment to reflect on what you’ve learned.

Consider how the author’s ideas connect with your existing knowledge and how they might influence your future thoughts.

b) Analyzing and Evaluating the Content

Critically assess the author’s arguments, considering their validity and any potential biases.

This is a crucial step in developing your analytical reading abilities.

c) Synthesizing Information

Combine the insights you’ve gained from the text with your existing knowledge to form new ideas and perspectives.

This synthesis is the ultimate goal of analytical reading , as it allows you to grow intellectually and creatively.

Analytical Reading Example

To provide a concrete example of analytical reading in action, let’s consider George Orwell’s classic novel, “1984.”

An analytical reader would not simply consume the story but would dissect its themes, such as the dangers of totalitarianism and the power of language.

They might draw connections to contemporary political situations or other dystopian works, such as Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World.”

By engaging with the text on this deeper level, the reader gains a richer understanding of Orwell’s message and its relevance to the world today.

Analytical Reading Exercises

Practicing analytical reading skills is essential for improvement. Here are some exercises to help you flex those cognitive muscles:

Pick a random passage from a book or article and write a brief summary of its main ideas.
Choose a controversial topic and read two opposing viewpoints. Analyze and compare the authors’ arguments and biases.
Read a classic work of literature and research the historical context in which it was written. Consider how this context might influence your interpretation of the text.

Tools to Aid Analytical Reading

There are numerous tools available that can help you develop your analytical reading abilities:

Speed reading applications, like Spreeder or Readlax, can train your brain to process text more efficiently, allowing you to focus on analysis.
Annotation tools, such as Diigo or Hypothesis, enable you to highlight and comment on text, fostering active engagement.
Mind-mapping software, like XMind or MindMeister, can help you visually organize information and identify connections between ideas.

Analytical Reading in the Digital Age

In today’s information-saturated world, developing strong analytical reading skills is more important than ever.

These abilities enable you to navigate the vast sea of online content, discerning reliable sources from misinformation and extracting valuable insights.

Improving Analytical Reading in Different Contexts

Analytical reading is not limited to academia.

It is a versatile skill that can be applied to various areas of your life, from professional development to leisure reading:

Academic reading: Analytical reading can help you excel in school by enabling you to engage more deeply with assigned texts and develop well-informed opinions.
Professional reading: In the workplace, analytical reading can improve your decision-making and problem-solving abilities by allowing you to more thoroughly evaluate information.
Leisure reading: Even when reading for pleasure, analytical reading can enrich your experience by helping you appreciate the nuances and complexities of a story.

Measuring Your Progress

As you work to develop your analytical reading skills, it’s important to track your progress and identify areas for improvement.

Self-assessment techniques, like reflecting on your reading experiences or discussing texts with others, can help you gauge your growth.
Analytical reading rubrics and benchmarks, which can be found online or in educational resources, provide a standardized framework for evaluating your abilities.
Tracking improvement over time, such as by keeping a reading journal or setting specific goals, will help you stay motivated and focused on your development.

The Impact of the Technique on Creativity and Problem-Solving

Developing strong analytical reading skills can also boost your creativity and problem-solving abilities.

By engaging deeply with texts, you expose yourself to diverse perspectives and novel ideas.

This, in turn, can stimulate your own creative thinking and enhance your ability to approach challenges in innovative ways.

As the renowned writer Marcel Proust once said,

“The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

Famous Thinkers on the Importance of Analytical Reading

Throughout history, many influential thinkers have recognized the value of deep reading :

René Descartes: “The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.” Virginia Woolf: “The only advice, indeed, that one person can give another about reading is to take no advice, to follow your own instincts, to use your own reason, to come to your own conclusions.” Mortimer J. Adler: “In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.”

Personal Growth and Self-Discovery

By fostering a deeper understanding of the world and the people within it, analytical reading can contribute to your personal growth and self-discovery.

Engaging with a wide range of texts can expose you to new ideas and perspectives that challenge your existing beliefs and expand your horizons.

In this way, analytical reading can be a transformative experience, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

Unlocking the power of this approach can enhance your reading comprehension, just as it did for great thinkers like Abraham Lincoln.

By engaging with texts on a deeper level, you’ll not only boost your brain health but also gain valuable insights and a richer understanding of the world around you.

So, embrace your inner analytical reader and embark on your own intellectual adventure today.

Bloomsoup Planet Earth Milky Way

© Bloomsoup. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases - i.e. when you click on a recommendation and buy it on Amazon, I receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) to keep me caffeinated and creating splendid content on your behalf.

Teacher Sign In
LTA Toolkit
Digital Teacher Guides

Visual Analysis Skills

Organizing information skills, analytical reading skills, examining evidence skills, rhetorical analysis skills.

Use LiteracyTA's analytical reading skills to investigate the rhetorical choices speakers and writers make, analyze their arguments, evaluate their evidence and reasoning, and examine how they use language and text structure to construct meaning.

According to PARCC, "Close, analytic reading stresses engaging with a text of sufficient complexity directly and examining its meaning thoroughly and methodically, encouraging students to read and reread deliberately. Directing student attention on the text itself empowers students to understand the central ideas and key supporting details. It also enables students to reflect on the meanings of individual words and sentences; the order in which sentences unfold; and the development of ideas over the course of the text, which ultimately leads students to arrive at an understanding of the text as a whole." Source

Middle / High

Discovering a Text

Marking a Text

Analyzing Text Features

Analyzing Text Structure

Investigative Reading

Analyzing Author's Point of View

Analyzing Author's Purpose

Analyzing Data

Analyzing Diction and Tone

Analyzing Literary Devices

Analyzing Rhetorical Devices

Double Entry Journal

Evaluating Rhetorical Devices

Skill Library
Informational Texts
Prompt Builder
Literacy Standards
Teacher Talk
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
LTA Toolkit Pro
The EL Teacher's Guidebook
Collaborative Work
Free Reading Program
Free Reading Program for Elementary
Free Reading Program for Middle School
Free Reading Program for High School
Free EL Reading Program
Free Intervention Reading Program
Free Online Reading Program
Reading Assessments
Reading Standards
Writing Standards
Speaking Standards
Language Standards
Common Core Standards

ZAP Classes

Interested in a ZAP Class at your school?

Already have access.

Academic Skills Center: Critical Reading

Academic Skills Center
Accounting and Finance
College Math
Self-Paced Modules
About Us Home
Administrative Staff
Social Change
Peer Mentors Home
Peer Live Events
Meet the Peer Mentors
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Word
Microsoft PowerPoint
Statistics Skills in Microsoft Excel
Capstone Formatting
MS Peer Tutoring
Course-Level Statistics
Statistics Tutoring
Strengthen Your Statistics Skills
HUMN 8304 Resources
Statistics Resources
SPSS and NVivo
Success Strategies Home
Time Management
School-Life Balance
Learning Strategies
Critical Reading
Communication
Doctoral Capstone and Residency
Classroom Skills
Beyond the Classroom
Mindset and Wellness
Self-Care and Wellness
Grit and Resilience
SMART Goals
Diversity and Inclusion
Savvy Student Blog
Redirected_Residency
Redirected_Undergraduate Peer Mentors
Redirected_Doctoral Peer Mentors
Redirected_Technology Skills
Course Resources
Reading Skills (old)
Previous Page: Learning Strategies
Next Page: Communication

Reading Self-Paced Modules

Reading Textbooks Reading Articles

Reading Skills Part 1: Set Yourself Up for Success

"While - like many of us - I enjoy reading what I want to read, I still struggle to get through a dense research article or textbook chapter. I have noticed, however, that if I take steps to prepare, I am much more likely to persist through a challenging reading. "

Reading Skills Part 2: Alternatives to Highlighting

"It starts with the best of intentions: trusty highlighter in hand or (for the tech-savvy crowd) highlighting tool hovering on-screen, you work your way through an assigned reading, marking only the most important information—or so you think."

Reading Skills Part 3: Read to Remember

"It’s happened to the best of us: on Monday evening, you congratulate yourself on making it though an especially challenging reading. What a productive start to the week!"

Reading a Research Article Assigned as Coursework

"Reading skills are vital to your success at Walden. The kind of reading you do during your degree program will vary, but most of it will involve reading journal articles based on primary research."

Critical Reading for Evaluation

"Whereas analysis involves noticing, evaluation requires the reader to make a judgment about the text’s strengths and weaknesses. Many students are not confident in their ability to assess what they are reading."

Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison

"Critical reading generally refers to reading in a scholarly context, with an eye toward identifying a text or author’s viewpoints, arguments, evidence, potential biases, and conclusions."

Pre-Reading Strategies

Triple entry notebook, critical thinking.

Use this checklist to practice critical thinking while reading an article, watching an advertisement, or making an important purchase or voting decision.

Critical Reading Checklist (Word) Critical Reading Checklist (PDF) Critical Thinking Bookmark (PDF)

Walden's Online Bookstore

Go to Walden's Online Bookstore

Hillary Wentworth on SKIL Grad Writing Courses, Critical Reading, & Online Etiquette

All the Skills You Need to Succeed.

Office of Student Disability Services

Walden Resources

Departments.

Academic Residencies
Academic Skills
Career Planning and Development
Customer Care Team
Field Experience
Military Services
Student Success Advising
Writing Skills

Centers and Offices

Center for Social Change
Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services
Office of Degree Acceleration
Office of Research and Doctoral Services
Office of Student Affairs

Student Resources

Doctoral Writing Assessment
Form & Style Review
Quick Answers
ScholarWorks
SKIL Courses and Workshops
Walden Bookstore
Walden Catalog & Student Handbook
Student Safety/Title IX
Legal & Consumer Information
Website Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Accessibility
Accreditation
State Authorization
Net Price Calculator
Contact Walden

Reading & Writing Purposes

Introduction: critical thinking, reading, & writing, critical thinking.

The phrase “critical thinking” is often misunderstood. “Critical” in this case does not mean finding fault with an action or idea. Instead, it refers to the ability to understand an action or idea through reasoning. According to the website SkillsYouNeed [1]:

Critical thinking might be described as the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking.

In essence, critical thinking requires you to use your ability to reason. It is about being an active learner rather than a passive recipient of information.

Critical thinkers rigorously question ideas and assumptions rather than accepting them at face value. They will always seek to determine whether the ideas, arguments, and findings represent the entire picture and are open to finding that they do not.

Critical thinkers will identify, analyze, and solve problems systematically rather than by intuition or instinct.

Someone with critical thinking skills can:

Understand the links between ideas.
Determine the importance and relevance of arguments and ideas.
Recognize, build, and appraise arguments.
Identify inconsistencies and errors in reasoning.
Approach problems in a consistent and systematic way.
Reflect on the justification of their own assumptions, beliefs and values.

Read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/critical-thinking.html

Critical thinking—the ability to develop your own insights and meaning—is a basic college learning goal. Critical reading and writing strategies foster critical thinking, and critical thinking underlies critical reading and writing.

Critical Reading

Critical reading builds on the basic reading skills expected for college.

College Readers’ Characteristics

College readers are willing to spend time reflecting on the ideas presented in their reading assignments. They know the time is well-spent to enhance their understanding.
College readers are able to raise questions while reading. They evaluate and solve problems rather than merely compile a set of facts to be memorized.
College readers can think logically. They are fact-oriented and can review the facts dispassionately. They base their judgments on ideas and evidence.
College readers can recognize error in thought and persuasion as well as recognize good arguments.
College readers are skeptical. They understand that not everything in print is correct. They are diligent in seeking out the truth.

Critical Readers’ Characteristics

Critical readers are open-minded. They seek alternative views and are open to new ideas that may not necessarily agree with their previous thoughts on a topic. They are willing to reassess their views when new or discordant evidence is introduced and evaluated.
Critical readers are in touch with their own personal thoughts and ideas about a topic. Excited about learning, they are eager to express their thoughts and opinions.
Critical readers are able to identify arguments and issues. They are able to ask penetrating and thought-provoking questions to evaluate ideas.
Critical readers are creative. They see connections between topics and use knowledge from other disciplines to enhance their reading and learning experiences.
Critical readers develop their own ideas on issues, based on careful analysis and response to others’ ideas.

The video below, although geared toward students studying for the SAT exam (Scholastic Aptitude Test used for many colleges’ admissions), offers a good, quick overview of the concept and practice of critical reading.

Critical Reading & Writing

College reading and writing assignments often ask you to react to, apply, analyze, and synthesize information. In other words, your own informed and reasoned ideas about a subject take on more importance than someone else’s ideas, since the purpose of college reading and writing is to think critically about information.

Critical thinking involves questioning. You ask and answer questions to pursue the “careful and exact evaluation and judgment” that the word “critical” invokes (definition from The American Heritage Dictionary ). The questions simply change depending on your critical purpose. Different critical purposes are detailed in the next pages of this text.

However, here’s a brief preview of the different types of questions you’ll ask and answer in relation to different critical reading and writing purposes.

When you react to a text you ask:

“What do I think?” and
“Why do I think this way?”

e.g., If I asked and answered these “reaction” questions about the topic assimilation of immigrants to the U.S. , I might create the following main idea statement, which I could then develop in an essay: I think that assimilation has both positive and negative effects because, while it makes life easier within the dominant culture, it also implies that the original culture is of lesser value.

When you apply text information you ask:

“How does this information relate to the real world?”

e.g., If I asked and answered this “application” question about the topic assimilation , I might create the following main idea statement, which I could then develop in an essay: During the past ten years, a group of recent emigrants has assimilated into the local culture; the process of their assimilation followed certain specific stages.

When you analyze text information you ask:

“What is the main idea?”
“What do I want to ‘test’ in the text to see if the main idea is justified?” (supporting ideas, type of information, language), and
“What pieces of the text relate to my ‘test?'”

e.g., If I asked and answered these “analysis” questions about the topic immigrants to the United States , I might create the following main idea statement, which I could then develop in an essay: Although Lee (2009) states that “segmented assimilation theory asserts that immigrant groups may assimilate into one of many social sectors available in American society, instead of restricting all immigrant groups to adapting into one uniform host society,” other theorists have shown this not to be the case with recent immigrants in certain geographic areas.

When you synthesize information from many texts you ask:

“What information is similar and different in these texts?,” and
“What pieces of information fit together to create or support a main idea?”

e.g., If I asked and answered these “synthesis” questions about the topic immigrants to the U.S. , I might create the following main idea statement, which I could then develop by using examples and information from many text articles as evidence to support my idea: Immigrants who came to the United States during the immigration waves in the early to mid 20th century traditionally learned English as the first step toward assimilation, a process that was supported by educators. Now, both immigrant groups and educators are more focused on cultural pluralism than assimilation, as can be seen in educators’ support of bilingual education. However, although bilingual education heightens the child’s reasoning and ability to learn, it may ultimately hinder the child’s sense of security within the dominant culture if that culture does not value cultural pluralism as a whole.

Critical reading involves asking and answering these types of questions in order to find out how the information “works” as opposed to just accepting and presenting the information that you read in a text. Critical writing involves recording your insights into these questions and offering your own interpretation of a concept or issue, based on the meaning you create from those insights.

Crtical Thinking, Reading, & Writing. Authored by : Susan Oaks, includes material adapted from TheSkillsYouNeed and Reading 100; attributions below. Project : Introduction to College Reading & Writing. License : CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial
Critical Thinking. Provided by : TheSkillsYouNeed. Located at : https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ . License : Public Domain: No Known Copyright . License Terms : Quoted from website: The use of material found at skillsyouneed.com is free provided that copyright is acknowledged and a reference or link is included to the page/s where the information was found. Read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/
The Reading Process. Authored by : Scottsdale Community College Reading Faculty. Provided by : Maricopa Community College. Located at : https://learn.maricopa.edu/courses/904536/files/32966438?module_item_id=7198326 . Project : Reading 100. License : CC BY: Attribution
image of person thinking with light bulbs saying -idea- around her head. Authored by : Gerd Altmann. Provided by : Pixabay. Located at : https://pixabay.com/photos/light-bulb-idea-think-education-3704027/ . License : CC0: No Rights Reserved
video What is Critical Reading? SAT Critical Reading Bootcamp #4. Provided by : Reason Prep. Located at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hc3hmwnymw . License : Other . License Terms : YouTube video
image of man smiling and holding a lightbulb. Authored by : africaniscool. Provided by : Pixabay. Located at : https://pixabay.com/photos/man-african-laughing-idea-319282/ . License : CC0: No Rights Reserved

school Campus Bookshelves
menu_book Bookshelves
perm_media Learning Objects
login Login
how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
hub Instructor Commons

Margin Size

Download Page (PDF)
Download Full Book (PDF)
Periodic Table
Physics Constants
Scientific Calculator
Reference & Cite
Tools expand_more
Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

1.3: Critical Reading and Rhetorical Analysis

Last updated
Save as PDF
Page ID 176354
Lumen Learning

$ \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } $

$ \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} $

$ \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}$ $ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) $ \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}$

$ \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}$ $ \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}$

$ \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}$ $ \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}$

$ \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}$

$ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$

$ \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}$

$ \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}$

$ \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}$

$ \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}$

$ \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}$

$ \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}$

$ \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}$

$ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$ $ \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}$

$ \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow$

$ \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow$

$ \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } $

$ \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} $

$ \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} $

$ \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} $

$ \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} $

Critical Reading and Rhetorical Analysis

Introduction.

Good researchers and writers examine their sources critically and actively. They do not just compile and summarize these research sources in their writing, but use them to create their own ideas, theories, and, ultimately, their own, new understanding of the topic they are researching. Such an approach means not taking the information and opinions that the sources contain at face value and for granted, but to investigate, test, and even doubt every claim, every example, every story, and every conclusion. It means not to sit back and let your sources control you, but to engage in active conversation with them and their authors. In order to be a good researcher and writer, one needs to be a critical and active reader.

This section of the first learning module concerns the importance of critical and active reading. It is also about the connection between critical reading and active, strong writing. Much of the discussion you will find in this chapter is fundamental to research and writing, no matter what writing genre, medium, or academic discipline you read and write in. Every other approach to research writing and every other research method and assignment offered in other courses is, in some way, based upon the principles discussed in this chapter.

Reading stands at the heart of the research process. No matter what kinds of research sources and methods you use, you are always reading and interpreting text. Most of us are used to hearing the word “reading” in relation to secondary sources, such as books, journals, magazines, Web sites, and so on. But even if you are using other research methods and sources, such as interviewing someone or surveying a group of people, you are reading. You are reading their subjects’ ideas and views on the topic you are investigating. Even if you are studying photographs, cultural artifacts, and other non-verbal research sources, you are reading them, also, by trying to connect them to their cultural and social contexts and to understand their multiple meanings. Principles of critical reading, which we are about to discuss in this chapter, apply to those research situations as well.

I like to think about reading and writing not as two separate activities, but as two tightly connected parts of the same whole. That whole is the process of learning and the creation of new meaning. It may seem that reading and writing are complete opposites of one another. According to the popular view, when we read, we “consume” texts, and when we write, we “produce” texts. But this view of reading and writing is true only if you see reading as a passive process of taking in information from the text and not as an active and energetic process of making new meaning and new knowledge. Similarly, good writing does not originate in a vacuum, but instead is usually based upon, or at least influenced by, other ideas, theories, and stories that come from reading. So if, as a college student, you have ever wondered why your writing teachers have asked you to read books and articles and write responses to them, it is because writers who do not read and do not actively engage with their reading, have little to say to others.

Life presents us with a variety of reading situations which demand different reading strategies and techniques. Sometimes, it is important to be as efficient as possible and read purely for information or “the main point.” At other times, it is important to just “let go” and turn the pages following a good story, although this sometimes means not thinking deeply about the story you are reading. At the heart of writing and research, however, lies the kind of reading known as critical reading. The critical examination of sources is what makes their use in research possible and what allows writers to create rhetorically effective and engaging texts. (4)

Key Features of Critical Reading

Critical readers are able to interact with the texts they read through carefully listening, writing, conversation, and questioning. They do not sit back and wait for the meaning of a text to come to them, but work hard in order to create such meaning. Critical readers are not made overnight. Becoming a critical reader will take a lot of practice and patience. Depending on your current reading philosophy and experiences with reading, becoming a critical reader may require a significant change in your whole understanding of the reading process. The trade-off is worth it, however. By becoming a more critical and active reader, you will also become a better researcher and a better writer. Last but not least, you will enjoy reading and writing a whole lot more because you will become actively engaged in both.

Critical reading, then, is a two-way process. As reader, you are not a consumer of words, waiting patiently for ideas from the printed page or a web-site to fill your head and make you smarter. Instead, as a critical reader, you need to interact with what you read, asking questions of the author, testing every assertion, fact, or idea, and extending the text by adding your own understanding of the subject and your own personal experiences to your reading.

The idea behind the rhetorical theory of reading is that when we read, we not only take in ideas, information, and facts, but in the process we also “update our view of the world.” This is what it means to be a monitoring citizen. You cannot force someone to update his or her worldview, and therefore, the purpose of writing is persuasion and the purpose of reading is being persuaded. Persuasion is possible only when the reader is actively engaged with the text and understands that much more than simple retrieval of information is at stake when reading. (4)

The following are key features of the critical approach to reading:

No text, however skillfully written or authoritative, contains its own, pre-determined meaning. Audiences bring their education, situated knowledge, and experience to bear on texts in order to better understand their meanings.
Readers must work hard to create meaning from every text. All complex texts contain surface meaning and subtext. Often, readers have to think of the bigger picture in making sense of how a subject can influence broader culture.
Critical readers interact with the texts that they read by questioning them, responding to them, and expanding them, usually in writing.
Critical readers actively search for related texts to place these works in conversation with each other to advance important ideas. Consider how subjects from your other courses and experiences connect to the sources you are reading. (5)

From Reading to Writing

As stated earlier in this chapter, actively responding to difficult texts, posing questions, and analyzing ideas presented in them is the key to successful reading. The goal of an active reader is to engage in a conversation with the text that he or she is reading. In order to fulfill this goal, it is important to understand the difference between reacting to the text and responding to it.

Reacting to a text is often done on an emotional—rather than on an intellectual—level. It is often quick and shallow. For example, if we encounter a text that advances arguments with which we strongly disagree, it is natural to dismiss those ideas out of hand as flawed and unworthy of our attention. Doing so would be reacting to the text based only on emotions and on our pre-determined opinions about its arguments. It is easy to see that reacting in this way does not take the reader any closer to understanding the text. A wall of disagreement that existed between the reader and the text before the reading continues to exist after the reading.

Responding to a text, on the other hand, requires a careful study of the ideas presented and the arguments advanced in it. Critical readers who possess this skill are not willing to simply reject or accept the arguments presented in the text after the first reading right away. To continue with our example from the preceding paragraph, a reader who responds to a controversial text rather than reacting to it might apply several of the following strategies before forming and expressing an opinion about that text.

Read the text several times, taking notes, asking questions, and underlining key places. Look for “starring sentences,” or those phrases or passages that use language in creative, memorable ways to underline key points.
Study why the author of the text advances ideas, arguments, and convictions, so different from the reader’s own. For example, is the text’s author advancing an agenda of some social, political, religious, or economic group of which he or she is a member?
Study the purpose and the intended audience of the text.
Study the history of the argument presented in the text as much as possible. For example, modern texts on highly controversial issues such as the death penalty, abortion, or euthanasia often use past events, court cases, and other evidence to advance their claims. Knowing the history of the problem will help you to construct a more comprehensive meaning of a difficult text.
Study the social, political, and intellectual context in which the text was written. Good writers use social conditions to advance controversial ideas. Compare the context in which the text was written to the one in which it is read. For example, have social conditions changed, thus invalidating the argument or making it stronger?
Consider the author’s (and your own) previous knowledge of the issue at the center of the text and your experiences with it. How might such knowledge or experience have influenced your reception of the argument?

Taking all these steps will help you to move away from simply reacting to a text and towards constructing informed and critical response to it. (6)

Strategies for Connecting Reading and Writing

If you want to become a critical reader, you need to get into the habit of writing as you read. You also need to understand that complex texts often require multiple close readings. During the second and any subsequent readings, however, you will need to write, and write a lot. The following are some critical reading and writing techniques which active readers employ as they work to create meanings from texts they read.

Students should get into the habit of composing extended responses to readings. Writing students are often asked to write one or two-page exploratory responses to readings, but they are not always clear on the purpose of these responses and on how to approach writing them. By writing reading responses, you are continuing the important activities of critical reading which you began when you compiled notes on the salient points of the text you are analyzing. You are extending the meaning of the text by creating your own commentary to it and perhaps even branching off into creating your own argument inspired by your reading. Your teacher may give you a writing prompt, or ask you to come up with your own topic for a response. In either case, realize that reading responses are supposed to be exploratory; they are designed to help you delve deeper into the text you are reading than mere note-taking or underlining will allow.

When writing extended responses to the readings, it is important to keep one thing in mind, and that is their purpose. The purpose of these exploratory responses, which are often rather informal, is not to impress your classmates and your teacher with “big” words and complex sentences. On the contrary, it is to help you understand the text you are working with at a deeper level. The verb “explore” means to investigate something by looking at it more closely. Investigators get leads, some of which are fruitful and useful and some of which are dead-ends. As you investigate and create the meaning of the text you are working with, do not be afraid to take different directions with your reading responses. In fact, it is important to resist the urge to make conclusions or think that you have found out everything about your reading. When it comes to exploratory reading responses, lack of closure and presence of more leads at the end of the piece can actually be a good thing. Of course, you should always check with your teacher for standards and formatting with regard to reading responses. (6)

Guidelines for Writing a Successful Response

Try the following guidelines to write a successful response to a reading:

Remember that your goal is often exploration. The purpose of writing a response is to construct the meaning of a difficult text. It is not to get the job done as quickly as possible and in as few words as possible.
As you write, “talk back to the text.” Make comments, ask questions, and elaborate on complex thoughts. This part of the writing becomes much easier if, prior to writing your response, you had read the assignment with a pen in hand and marked important places in the reading.
If your teacher provides a response prompt, make sure that you understand it. Then, try to answer the questions in the prompt to the best of your ability. While you are doing that, do not be afraid to introduce related texts, examples, or experiences. Active reading is about making connections, and your readers will appreciate your work because it will help them understand the text better.
While your primary goal is exploration and questioning, make sure that others can understand your response. While it is sometimes fine to be informal in your response, make every effort to write in a clear, error-free language that is amenable to academic writing at the collegiate level.
Involve your audience in the discussion of the reading by asking questions, expressing opinions, and connecting to responses made by others.

Many of the weekly assignments in this section of ENC 1102, which include quizzes and class-wide discussions, have a minimum guideline of at least eight paragraphs in length. For most student writers, this roughly equates to composing a two-page essay. Students should become comfortable with composing sufficiently insightful, clearly written analyses in this format, as the two-page document is a common length for writing outside of the classroom and in the workplace.

Now, it is time to practice what you have learned concerning the formal approaches to rhetorical theory and critical reading. Before you take this week’s quiz, critically read and analyze the following essay on the prevalence and consequences of fake news. When you feel that you have a stronger understanding of what Professor Pablo Boczkowski is saying about our contemporary information culture, navigate to the quiz and record your response to the questions in the prompt. (7)

Chapter 3: Research and Critical Reading. Authored by : Dr. Pavel Zemliansky. Located at : threerivers.digication.com/mod/Introduction. License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Education Resources for Teachers

of Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students

Contextual Analysis

Upper elementary and above
Vocabulary development
Use context clues
Monitor reading comprehension
Apply repair strategies
Make inferences
Apply metacognitive skills

Strategy steps:

They will learn how to recognize clues to help add meanings to words they don’t understand in the text.
The clues will help them comprehend.
Teacher reads aloud/signs a sentences containing an unfamiliar word. (Example: Wilma had dieted for the last two weeks. She stepped on the scale and was disappointed. She had not lost any weight. )
Teacher tells class: “I’m not sure what the word dieted means. I’ll reread the sentences and see if I can find any clues. It says that Wilma was disappointed because she had not lost any weight. That tells me that she wanted to lose weight. I think dieted means that you don’t eat very much–and you don’t eat fatty foods–so you can lose weight and become thin.”
Tell the students that as you read on in the text, you usually find out if you are right. If not, rethink the information and possibly try another repair strategy.
Model two or three more examples.
Provide guided practice to students as they work with two or three more examples. (Teacher and students work together to locate clue words/phrases in the sentences that will provide clues to the meanings of unfamiliar words.)
Students can work individually or in pairs.
They read a passage and write the clue words and approximate meanings for unfamiliar words.
The unfamiliar words can be words the teacher has highlighted or words they find as they read.
Students share their work with the class.
Students work individually or in pairs to determine the meaning of the new word.
Students write the clue words and what they think the new vocabulary word means.
Students share their work, discuss their ideas, reach a consensus on what the clues are and what the new vocabulary word means.

Structural Analysis In Reading | Key Aspects & Characteristics

One essential reading skill that enables us to better understand texts’ primary ideas is structural analysis. It helps us understand how texts are organized. This article examines the significance of structural analysis in reading, as well as its main features, applications, and connection to phonics in the process of improving reading competency.

Table of Contents

What Is Structural Analysis ?

In order to comprehend the primary concepts and topics of a text, structural analysis in reading entails dissecting the introduction, body, and conclusion of the text. It makes it easier for readers to follow an author’s argument and predict what will be covered.

Structural Analysis – Key Aspects and Examples

One of the most important reading skills that enables us to comprehend the organization of texts is structural analysis.

Readers can better understand a text’s primary ideas and themes by dissecting its structure. To have a better understanding of structural analysis, let’s examine its essential components and look at some examples.

1. Text Organization

Knowing a text’s organizational structure is one facet of structural analysis. This entails identifying a text’s introduction, body, and conclusion in addition to any subheadings or paragraphs that may be found within them.

For instance, in a news item, the primary issue is frequently introduced in the title and the first paragraph, with further information and supporting data presented in the paragraphs that follow.

Readers are better able to anticipate information and follow an author’s argument when they are aware of how a text is organized.

2. Text Features

Features like headings, subheadings, bullet points, and captions are frequently used in texts. These characteristics might offer crucial hints regarding the primary concepts and focal areas of a work.

For example, in a textbook, headings and subheadings assist in dividing the content into distinct sections, facilitating readers’ navigation and comprehension of the content.

Furthermore, bullet points might help with comprehension by emphasizing crucial details or summarizing crucial ideas.

3. Text Structure

Texts of different genres have various frameworks. While some writings have a cause-and-effect structure or a problem-and-solution approach, others are organized chronologically.

Understanding these structures can aid readers in comprehending the goal and logic of the author. An author may, for instance, employ a framework in a compare-and-contrast essay that alternates between highlighting the similarities and differences between two themes.

Comprehending text structures enables readers to interact with the content more thoroughly and draw connections between various sections of the text.

4. Transition Words

Another crucial component of structural analysis is the use of transitional words and phrases. These terms aid in indicating connections between ideas and aid readers in following the text’s flow.

In a book, terms such as “however,” “therefore,” and “for example” signify the change in thoughts or parts. Readers can have a better understanding of the connections between various sections of the text and how each one adds to the larger argument or story by paying attention to these transition words.

Characteristics Of Structural Analysis In Reading

Importance of structural analysis.

One essential ability that is essential to comprehending and interpreting written materials is structural analysis.

Readers can learn more about the author’s intentions, the text’s overall meaning, and the way ideas flow by dissecting a text’s structure. Let’s examine the significance of structural analysis in reading.

1. Enhanced Comprehension

Enhancing comprehension is one of structural analysis’s main advantages. Readers can more easily comprehend the primary concepts and important details of a text by being aware of its organization. They are therefore more able to remember and retain information.

2. Improved Critical Thinking

Furthermore, readers are prompted to consider the material critically by structural analysis. Readers can assess the logic of an author’s argument or story by looking at how it is organized.

3. Better Note-taking

Enhancing note-taking abilities might also involve understanding a text’s structure. Readers can take more focused and succinct notes for learning and reference by outlining the major concepts and important details.

4. Facilitates Deeper Analysis

Readers can explore the material in greater detail thanks to structural analysis. Through the identification of patterns, such as recurrent themes or motifs, readers can unearth subtleties and hidden meanings that might not be immediately clear.

5. Enhanced Writing Skills

Lastly, structural analysis can help with writing abilities as well. Writers can learn how to better organize their own writing by examining the organization of well-structured texts. Moreover, this will help them to create more compelling and coherent arguments or narratives.

Phonics and Structural Analysis

Reading competency is built on two essential skills: phonics and structural analysis. Let’s examine these ideas in more detail and see how crucial they are to reading comprehension.

The basis of reading is phonics, which teaches the correspondence between letters and sounds. By identifying letter combinations and their accompanying sounds, it helps readers decode unknown words.

Knowing that the letter “ph” produces the /f/ sound, for instance, can be helpful when pronouncing things like “phone” or “photo.” Moreover, readers can increase their accuracy and fluency in reading by becoming proficient in phonics. It gives children the confidence to take on new terms, which improves their ability to understand and appreciate readings.

Structural Analysis

Dissecting words into their constituent meaningful parts—prefixes, suffixes, and root words—is known as structural analysis. The prefix “un-” in the word “unhappiness,” for example, signifies “not,” and the suffix “-ness” denotes a state or quality. Comprehending structural analysis facilitates readers’ interpretation of difficult terms. It improves their vocabulary and comprehension by enabling kids to infer meanings from the parts of unknown words with confidence.

In summary, readers must grasp structural analysis in order to successfully comprehend and interpret written texts. Together with phonics, this skill will help readers improve their vocabulary, fluency, and understanding in general.

An example of structural analysis in reading is identifying the main sections of a text, such as the introduction, body, and conclusion.

An example of structural analysis is breaking down a word into its prefixes, roots, and suffixes to understand its meaning.

Structural analysis in words refers to the process of examining the structure of words to derive their meanings, often by identifying prefixes, suffixes, and root words.

To write a structural analysis, break down the text into its parts, examine elements like paragraphs, and analyze how they contribute to the overall meaning.

Eddie Cheng In Crazy Rich Asians | Character Analysis

Oswald In King Lear | Character Analysis & Quotes

Dai Manju Character Analysis | In Half the Sky By Nicholas Kristof

11 Important Themes Of Pygmalion & Symbolism| By Bernard Shaw

What Are Pulleys | Types, Advantages, Examples & Parts

Orphan Train by Baker Kline | Summary, Analysis & Themes

Soliloquy in Romeo and Juliet | Explanation & Importance

Snug In A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Character Analysis

Periodicity Assumption | Importance, Advantages & Examples

Galatea Effect | Difference Between Pygmalion and Galatea Effects

Never Let Me Go (novel) | Characters, Summary, Analysis & Themes

The scarlet letter | facts, summary, analysis, themes & characters, freida riley in october sky | role character analysis & award, the runaway by robert frost: summary, analysis & themes.

Miscue Analysis for Diagnosing Reading Skills

Jamie Grill/Blend Images / Getty Images

Reading & Writing
Applied Behavior Analysis
Behavior Management
Lesson Plans
Math Strategies
Social Skills
Inclusion Strategies
Individual Education Plans
Becoming A Teacher
Assessments & Tests
Elementary Education
Secondary Education
Homeschooling

Miscue analysis is a means to use a running record for diagnosis to identify students' specific difficulties. Not only is the running record a way to identify reading rate and reading accuracy, but it also is a way to assess reading behaviors and identify reading behaviors that need support.

A miscue analysis is a great way to get some authentic information about a student's reading skills, and a means to identify specific weaknesses. Many screening tools will give you a "down and dirty" estimate of a child's reading proficiency but provide little useful information for designing appropriate interventions.

The Miscues to Look for During a Miscue Analysis

Correction A common sign of a competent reader, a correction is a miscue that the student corrects in order to make sense of the word in the sentence.

Insertion An insertion is a word(s) added by the child that is not in the text.

Omission During oral reading, the student omits a word that changes the meaning of the sentence.

Repetition The student repeats a word or portion of the text.

Reversal A child will reverse the order of the print or the word. (from instead of form, etc.)

Substitution Instead of reading the word in the text, a child substitutes a word that may or may not make sense in the passage.

What Do the Miscues Tell You?

Correction This is good! We want readers to self-correct. However, is the reader reading too fast? Is the reader miscorrecting accurate reading? If so, the reader often doesn't see himself as a 'good' reader.

Insertion Does the inserted word detract from meaning? If not, it may just mean the reader is making sense but also inserts. The reader may also be reading too fast. If the insertion is something like using finished for finish, this should be addressed.

Omission When words are omitted, it may mean weaker visual tracking. Determine if the meaning of the passage is affected or not. If not, omissions can also be the result of not focusing or reading too fast. It may also mean the sight vocabulary is weaker.

Repetition Lots of repetition may indicate that the text is too difficult. Sometimes readers repeat when they're uncertain and will repeat the word(s) to keep the words coming as they regroup.

Reversal Watch for altered meaning. Many reversals happen with young readers with high-frequency words . It may also indicate that the student has difficulty with scanning the text, left to right.

Substitutions Sometimes a child will use a substitution because they don't understand the word being read. Does the substitution make sense in the passage, is it a logical substitution? If the substitution does not change the meaning, it is often enough to help the child focus on accuracy, because he/she is reading from meaning, the most important skill.

Creating the Miscue Instrument

It is often helpful to have the text copied so you can make notes directly on the text. A double-spaced copy can be helpful. Create a key for each miscue, and be sure to write the substitution or pre-correction above the word that was miscued so you can identify the pattern later.

Reading A-Z provides assessments with the first books at each reading level that provide both the text (for notes) and columns of each of the miscue types.

Performing a Miscue Analysis

Miscue analysis is an important diagnostic tool that should be done every 6 to 8 weeks to give a sense if reading interventions are addressing the student's needs. Making sense of the miscues will help you with the next steps to improve the child's reading. It is worthwhile to have a few questions prepared that let you know about the child's comprehension of the passage read as miscue analysis tends to rely on advising you of the strategies used. Miscue analysis may seem time-consuming initially, however, the more you do, the easier the process gets.

Use unfamiliar text, not something the child knows from memory.
A miscue analysis will be inaccurate when administered to an emerging reader, but the information may still be of value.
Give the student some choice in the reading selection.
You will need a quiet place without interruptions, it can be very handy to record the child which provides you with an opportunity to listen to the passage more than once.
Photocopy the selection the student will read, use this to record the miscues.
Record each miscue. (Use hyphens for skipped words, record each substitution (ie, went for when), use for insertion and record the word(s), circle omitted words, underline repeated words, you may also want to use // for repeated words.
How to Use a Running Record to Assess Beginning Readers
Curriculum Based Assessment for Children
Reading Rubric to Help Develop Reading Skills
How to Assess and Teach Reading Comprehension
Abstracting & Transcribing Genealogical Documents
10 Strategies to Increase Student Reading Comprehension
10 Tips to Improve Kindergarten Reading Comprehension
Teaching Developmental Reading Skills for Targeted Content Focuses
How to Find the Main Idea
Using Context for Reading Literacy in an ESL Class
A Comprehensive Review of the Star Reading Program
Develop Fluency and Comprehension With Repeated Reading
Understanding Fluency Tables for Progress Monitoring in Reading
Mini Printable Booklets to Teach Reading
How to Use Parentheses in Writing
5 Tips to Improve Reading Comprehension

Analysis: what it is and how to do it

Part of English Critical reading

Did you know?

The word ‘analysis’ literally means to loosen something up. It is made up of two Greek words, ana meaning up, and lysis meaning to loosen.

Introduction to analysis

Analysis is an important skill to learn and practise in English – it helps you to explore and understand the writer’s craft.

Key learning points

What is analysis and where would we use it?
How do I analyse a fiction text and write about it?
Which literary terms could I use in my analysis and how do I use them?

Video about analysis

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

A video about how to carry out analysis on fiction texts

Video Transcript Video Transcript

When we analyse a text, we are trying to understand how it works. We can look at the overall structure, the individual sentences and the writer’s word choices to find different possible meanings. Think about what you’d like to explore. For example, it might be interesting to understand how the characters are portrayed.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

How does Dickens present the character of Scrooge?

Start your analysis by finding a relevant or interesting section of text.

'Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint … secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster.'

What does Dickens’s language choice tell you about Scrooge?

Dickens presents Scrooge as a character isolated from society.

But how has Dickens achieved this? Take the simile: “solitary as an oyster”. What effect does this comparison have?

Oysters have hard shells that protect themselves from predators. This simile suggests that Scrooge could be isolating himself from the people around him as a defence mechanism.

Try to explore additional connotations and further layers of meaning.

Oysters only come out to feed. So perhaps Scrooge only interacts with people when it benefits him.

And you can add depth to your analysis by exploring the context in which the text was produced.

Most rich members of Victorian society only interacted with their social inferiors when it was necessary. Dickens would have experienced this first-hand from when he was a boy working in Warren’s Blacking factory.

To summarise your analysis, articulate your personal opinion with authority.

I believe Dickens compared Scrooge to an oyster to illustrate his isolation from society. The simile alludes to his relationship with others and hints that he doesn't want to be hurt…

Use the tools of analysis to explore how a text works: start by looking at a short section; make an observation on the language choice, explain the effect or meaning, explore further layers of meaning and context – then summarise with authority!

Who knows what you might discover in your favourite texts.

What is analysis?

Analysis allows us to see the smaller parts of something and understand more about them.

Think about a woollen scarf. If you pull it apart, the strands become looser and you can start to see how it is made – the weave, the threads, the pattern etc.

When asked to analyse a piece of writing, you need to look in detail at what the writer has done. Instead of weave, threads and pattern, look for words, techniques, and the structure of the writing. This can help you understand how the piece of writing was created and the effect the writing has on the reader.

Analysis in non-fiction contexts

Analysis is a skill that is used in many different areas of life. Right now, there are millions of people all over the world completing some sort of analysis to find out the answer to something or explain how something works. Often this is based on something they have to read.

Scientific analysis might involve looking at evidence in studies and reports and picking out what is needed to support a hypothesis close hypothesis A theory or suggestion that is made based on evidence that can be tested. or a decision.

Forensic analysis might involve looking over emails to find specific patterns or searching social media to find key words to aid an investigation.

Journalistic analysis might involve reading the testimonies of witnesses to an event and piecing together a narrative about that event.

How to analyse a fiction text

Analysing language is about unpicking the words and structure of a text to see its smaller, simpler elements.

You could focus your analysis of a text on one the following areas:

Words – adjectives, adverbs, verbs, etc
Sentences – simple, compound, complex
Paragraphs – structure, length
Literary techniques – metaphor close metaphor Makes a direct comparison by presents one thing as if it were something else with the characteristic. For example describing a brave person as a lion. , simile close simile A comparison between two objects using ‘like’ or ‘as’. , repetition close repetition Repeating a word or phrase in a sentence can emphasise a point, or help to make sure it is fully understood. , imagery close imagery Descriptive writing which appeals to one or more of the five senses. etc
Characters – appearance, mannerisms, motivations, dialogue
Themes – where a theme appears, which characters represent the theme
Plot – what happens and when, and to whom
Symbols – links to character, links to themes

How to analyse character

Michael Horden as Ebenezer Scrooge in a TV adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

Structural Analysis

Learning strategy.

Lists of root words, prefixes, and suffixes (e.g., Reading First list )

Target Student

All students can benefit from this learning strategy, particularly those that struggle with decoding multisyllabic words.

Description

Structural analysis is a strategy that can be used to facilitate decoding as students become more proficient readers. The decoding strategies in structural analysis aid students in learning parts of words (prefixes, suffixes) so they can more easily decode unknown multi-syllabic words.

Structural analysis is a learning strategy. Use explicit instruction (explanation, modeling, guided practice, independent practice) to teach structural analysis to students.

Aside from using explicit instruction to teach structural analysis, the learned prefixes and suffixes should be embedded into texts and spelling instruction. Activities such as educational games can be used to help students practice decoding unknown words and to reinforce the application of previously taught prefixes and suffixes.

Explain the strategy. Review the concept of syllable. Explain that some syllables change or add meaning to a word. Show a poster defining root word, prefix, and suffix and explain the poster. Distribute a beginning list of commonly used prefixes and suffixes to use at first, and then gradually lengthen the list. Using the list, have students identify the meanings of some prefixes and suffixes. Explain that the rest of the word to which a prefix and/or suffix is added is called a root word.

Model the strategy. Model how to add the prefix or suffix (i.e. un) to a root word (i.e happy) to create a new word. Read the new word and state its meaning. For example, “The new word is unhappy. Un- means ‘not’ and happy means ‘with joy,’ so unhappy means ‘not happy’ or ‘without joy.” Model starting with happy and changing it to happiness, using thinking aloud to explain that the suffix ness was added to the end of happy and changed its meaning to a thing, Repeat the tasks until students achieve proficiency (can add the target prefixes or suffixes to root words and accurately decode and state their meaning).

Guided practice: Guide students in performing the strategy in small groups or in pairs. During this time, scaffold the learning and support students who need assistance in using the strategy. They can also model the think aloud strategy (when in pairs) to strengthen comprehension and learning of the steps involved. Once students understand the concept, you can create novel opportunities, activities, or games for them to practice reading words with word parts.

Independent practice: After guided practice, students should only use the strategy independently, once they have shown they have mastered the strategy. Students can also be given the opportunity to reflect on the strategy.

Adapted from WI RTI Center. (2014). Structural analysis . Retrieved from http://www.wirticenter.com/strategiesbank/index.php

Bursuck, W. D., & Damer, M. (2011). Teaching reading to students who are at risk or have disabilities: A multi-tier approach (2nd Ed). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Harris, M.L., Schumaker, J.B., & Deshler, D.D. (2011). The effects of strategic morphological analysis instruction on the vocabulary performance of secondary students with and without disabilities. Learning Disability Quarterly, 34 , 17-33.

Vadasy, P. F., Sanders, E. A., & Peyton, J. A. (2006). Paraeducator-supplemented instruction in structural analysis with text reading practice for second and third graders at risk for reading problems. Remedial and Special Education, 27 , 365-378.

Vaughn, S., & Linan-Thompson, S. (2004). Research-based methods of reading instruction: Grades K-3 . Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Sign Up For Website Updates

Professional development registration.

Please be considerate and notify the NYS RtI TAC if you are unable to attend. We anticipate that the demand for this event will exceed capacity. Failure to cancel registration may compromise registration for future NYS RtI TAC-sponsored events.

Professional Development Registration Cancelation

ANALYSIS: Boards Win in Delaware’s ‘Firm-Specific’ Duty Ruling

By Kate Azevedo

Delaware companies scored with the Delaware Chancery Court’s recent opinion in McRitchie v. Zuckerberg . The ruling clearly defined and limited Delaware’s “firm-specific” fiduciary duties of the board, effectively taking the wind out of the sails of related shareholder litigation and proposals.

Litigation on the issue of boards’ fiduciary duties has risen 83% in the state since two precedential rulings from 1985 left some questions unanswered, but McRitchie will likely put a stop to most lawsuits on the matter.

Key Delaware Case Law on Fiduciary Duties

The McRitchie ruling—and the two 1985 Delaware Chancery Court rulings cited in McRitchie —are ...

Learn more about Bloomberg Law or Log In to keep reading:

Learn about bloomberg law.

AI-powered legal analytics, workflow tools and premium legal & business news.

Already a subscriber?

Trump’s lawyer charges Michael Cohen lied to jury

Angry defense lawyer shouts in confrontation with Donald Trump’s former fixer, who stayed calm in his third day of testimony.

NEW YORK — The central witness against Donald Trump withstood a withering cross-examination Thursday from the former president’s defense lawyer, who accused Michael Cohen of lying as recently as two days ago to realize his dreams of revenge against his ex-boss.

The confrontation between Cohen and Trump lawyer Todd Blanche was the most anticipated moment in the month-long trial, which is now speeding toward a conclusion. Because the trial is off Friday, the jurors will have three days to weigh Cohen’s answers. His cross-examination will continue Monday morning, setting the stage for closing arguments next week.

New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan told the lawyers that he would try to make sure those arguments don’t stretch out over more than one day, but he warned that they might because of scheduling demands of the jurors and other logistics issues.

The day’s testimony was closely watched by a cadre of Trump’s political allies sitting behind him in court, including Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.). There were so many congressional Republicans in court in New York that a House Oversight Committee hearing in Washington was delayed .

Trump, who paid close attention Thursday to Blanche’s questioning of Cohen, has still not decided whether he will take the stand, Blanche told the judge. Most defendants do not testify at their trials, believing the risks of being questioned by prosecutors under oath are simply too great.

Trump hush money trial

In his third day on the witness stand, Cohen remained calm and quiet — speaking in a slow, sometimes raspy voice as Blanche challenged his truthfulness again and again. At one point, Blanche shouted that Cohen was a liar.

Cohen’s ability to keep his cool under pressure is an important measuring stick for the prosecutors’ chances of success.

Perhaps more importantly, the jury must decide whether they believe the only witness who directly ties Trump to an alleged scheme to falsify business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star.

Cohen, a disbarred and convicted former lawyer , has admitted that he lied for Trump for years; it would be a far more serious threat to the prosecution case if jurors came to suspect he lied to them.

Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg . The indictment accuses Trump of creating a false paper trail to hide the fact that adult-film star Stormy Daniels was paid $130,000 in October 2016 to stay silent about her claim to have had sex with Trump years earlier. Trump denies the two had sex.

Cohen is instrumental to the prosecution case because he paid Daniels with his own money; the following year, the lawyer was given monthly payments from Trump in what prosecutors say was a corrupt scheme to reimburse him and keep Daniels’s allegations under wraps. Cohen is the only witness who has described conversations with Trump in which he said it was clear that his boss understood they would create the false paper trail.

The angriest and potentially most consequential moment in Thursday’s testimony came when Blanche confronted Cohen over his claim that he spoke to Trump on the evening of Oct. 24, 2016, when he called the phone of Trump’s security chief, Keith Schiller.

Cohen testified Tuesday that during the phone call, he told Trump the plan to pay hush money to Daniels was moving forward.

Blanche, however, presented text messages between Schiller and Cohen that preceded that call and suggested an entirely different reason for the conversation. In those texts, Cohen complained about getting harassing phone calls and asked for Schiller’s help. “Call me,” Schiller replied.

After hours of mild-mannered and patient questioning of Cohen, Blanche erupted as he confronted Cohen over the Schiller texts. Accusing Cohen of fabricating key evidence against his client, the lawyer angrily grabbed the microphone and raised his voice.

“That was a lie! You did not talk to President Trump that night!” Blanche bellowed.

Blanche suggested the call was simply too short for it to have included Schiller handing his phone to his boss so he and Cohen could discuss a financial transaction that would ultimately be the genesis of criminal charges against Trump.

“I’m not sure that’s accurate,” Cohen said.

He tried to revise his earlier account, saying he “also spoke to Mr. Trump and told him that everything regarding the Stormy Daniels matter was being worked on and it’s going to be resolved.”

The back-and-forth was the most tense moment yet of Cohen’s cross-examination, and of the entire trial.

But a quieter exchange may prove more damaging to Cohen’s credibility. It happened when Blanche asked Cohen if he had been willing to lie under oath while pleading guilty to tax crimes “because the stakes affected you personally.”

Cohen agreed that he had been.

A few minutes later, Blanche asked Cohen whether “the outcome of this trial affects you personally.”

Again, Cohen said: “Yes.”

Throughout the day, Blanche tried to methodically rip apart the prosecution portrait of Cohen as a remorseful, reformed henchman , using elements of Cohen’s prior testimony to suggest to the jury that he is a singularly selfish person .

Wearing a pale yellow tie, dark suit and dark-rimmed glasses, Cohen met Blanche’s indignation with a calm insistence that whatever his faults, his story about Trump’s guilt was true.

Yet he also struggled to explain why he told a congressional committee in 2019 that he never sought and would never seek a pardon from Trump, when his lawyer was doing just that . (Cohen called it a “misstatement.”) Or how he could claim to have accepted responsibility for financial crimes, but also call the prosecutor and judge in that case corrupt.

On the stand, Cohen said the fault for what happened lay with his bank, his accountant and others.

“You’ve blamed a lot of people over the years for the conduct you were convicted of, yes?” Blanche asked.

“I blame people, yes,” he replied.

Cohen also admitted that he often recorded his conversations with people without their knowledge, including at one point Trump, who at the time was his legal client.

Blanche played for the jury two short recordings of a bombastic Cohen talking about how joyful he was over Trump’s indictment and the prospect of the former president possibly going to jail. Cohen has continued to rail publicly against Trump, on podcasts, social media and in news interviews, despite repeated entreaties from the prosecutors for him to stop.

“I truly f---ing hope that this man ends up in prison,” Cohen said on a podcast excerpt played for the jury Thursday. “Revenge is a dish best served cold, and you best believe I want this man to go down and rot inside for what he did to my family.”

In another podcast clip, this one from May of last year, weeks after Trump’s indictment in this case, Cohen declared: “I want to thank the Manhattan district attorney’s office and their fearless leader Alvin Bragg, with whom I spent countless hours.”

On the witness stand, Cohen conceded that he had not in fact met or spent time with Bragg.

The district attorney has attended the trial intermittently but was not in court Thursday. The trial is off Friday so that Trump can attend his son’s high school graduation.

Just before court ended for the day, Blanche asked about a 2016 conversation in which Cohen reassured a reporter that the story about a Trump-Daniels encounter was false. In the phone call, Cohen told the reporter to believe Cohen because he is “a really bad liar.”

On the stand, Cohen acknowledged that he was lying at the time.

Trump New York hush money case

Former president Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial is underway in New York. Follow live updates from the trial .

Key witnesses: Several key witnesses, including David Pecker and Stormy Daniels, have taken the stand. Here’s what Daniels said during her testimony . Read full transcripts from the trial .

Gag order: New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has twice ruled that Trump violated his gag order , which prohibits him from commenting on jurors and witnesses in the case, among others. Here are all of the times Trump has violated the gag order .

The case: The investigation involves a $130,000 payment made to Daniels, an adult-film actress , during the 2016 presidential campaign. It’s one of many ongoing investigations involving Trump . Here are some of the key people in the case .

The charges: Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Falsifying business records is a felony in New York when there is an “intent to defraud” that includes an intent to “commit another crime or to aid or conceal” another crime. He has pleaded not guilty . Here’s what to know about the charges — and any potential sentence .

Subscriber-only Newsletter

R.F.K. Jr. Isn’t a Spoiler Now, Poll Suggests, but He Could Be in November

Kennedy draws disproportionately from voters who usually back Democrats but have defected to Trump.

Share full article

By Nate Cohn

When Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Democrat-turned-independent candidate, announced his run for president, it was reasonable to think he might be a possible spoiler — a candidate who drew voters away from President Biden and could help elect Donald J. Trump.

So far, it’s not so simple.

Across the battleground states in the New York Times/Siena College polls released Monday, Mr. Kennedy actually drew somewhat more support from Mr. Trump than Mr. Biden, with 8 percent of Mr. Trump’s supporters preferring Mr. Kennedy in the five-way race to 7 percent of Mr. Biden’s supporters.

Looking at the minor-party candidates more generally, the results were essentially identical in either the two-way or the five-way race. Mr. Trump led by 6.19 points among registered voters across the six states in the two-way race, compared with a 6.16-point lead when Mr. Kennedy and other minor-party candidates made up a five-way race. Needless to say, this is not a material difference.

There is a twist, however — one that raises the possibility that Mr. Kennedy could ultimately play a bigger role than he does today.

The twist is that Mr. Kennedy draws disproportionately from voters who usually back Democrats but have defected to Mr. Trump.

In fact, Mr. Kennedy actually takes more Biden 2020 voters than Trump ’20 voters, even though Mr. Kennedy draws more Trump ’24 voters than Biden ’24 voters.

He drew 8 percent of Mr. Biden’s 2020 supporters to 6 percent of those who backed Mr. Trump, even though more of his supporters would back Mr. Trump today.

Similarly, Mr. Kennedy drew 7 percent of self-identified Democrats, compared with 4 percent of Republicans.

And he drew 8 percent of those who backed Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in the four states where we asked about them, compared with 6 percent of those who backed the Republican candidate.

It might seem confusing that Mr. Kennedy is disproportionately strong among the sliver of Trump voters who usually vote Democratic, but it makes a lot of sense. The polls show many disengaged young and nonwhite voters who usually lean Democratic, but have soured so much on Mr. Biden that they backed Mr. Trump in the polls. But it’s not as if they love Mr. Trump. They voted against him last time, after all, and they usually vote Democratic. So it’s easy to see why these voters would prefer Mr. Kennedy to Mr. Trump.

All of this adds up to an unusual takeaway: Mr. Kennedy may be winning over voters whom Mr. Biden may need in order to win, even if those voters have soured on him so much that they wouldn’t vote for him even if Mr. Kennedy weren’t on the ballot. He may not be a spoiler now, but perhaps he could be if Mr. Biden’s standing improved.

How much support does Kennedy really have?

If you’ve been reading the polling about Mr. Kennedy carefully, you’ve seen that his level of support can be all over the place. In some polls, he barely wins any support at all. In others, he’s reached nearly 20 percent or more — including in our last Times/Siena polls of these same states.

What’s the explanation? Today, my colleague Ruth Igielnik reports the findings of an experiment that helps solve the mystery. The short answer: It’s about the wording and order of the questionnaire.

You’ll want to read more about it here , including how one of our own colleagues (who has a generic-sounding name) fared as a hypothetical third-party candidate.

Nate Cohn is The Times’s chief political analyst. He covers elections, public opinion, demographics and polling. More about Nate Cohn

Human rights abuses are happening right now – start a monthly gift today.

Videos & Photos
Take Action

Peru Chooses Bigotry in Medical Services

Government Should Scrap Decree that Pathologizes LGBT Identities

@cristianfergo

Share this via Facebook Share this via X Share this via WhatsApp Share this via Email Other ways to share Share this via LinkedIn Share this via Reddit Share this via Telegram Share this via Printer

Organizations march to demand faster investigations and justice in cases of transphobic violence in Lima, Peru, on February 22, 2023.

Peru’s government published a presidential decree on May 10 classifying trans identities as mental health conditions in the country’s Essential Health Insurance Plan , which lists insurable health conditions for insurance policies. The decree, signed by President Dina Boluarte, the minister of health, and the minister of the economy, also refers to “ego-dystonic sexual orientation” as a mental health condition.

A Ministry of Health official said the policy change was meant to facilitate coverage for “transsexual people and people with gender identity disorders,” particularly in private clinics. However, the decree is profoundly regressive.

It employs obsolete classifications related to gender identity and sexual orientation that the World Health Organization (WHO) replaced in the most recent International Classification of Diseases, published in 2019. The decree also further calcifies prejudices against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Peru which have led to violence and discrimination against this population.

The Ministry of Health has since affirmed it does not view LGBT identities as “illnesses,” but the decree remains in place despite heavy criticism from Peruvian human rights organizations and activists, including PROMSEX , Más Igualdad Perú , and Gahela Cari .

Officially pathologizing LGBT people in Peru may seriously undermine efforts to improve rights protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Peru currently does not allow same-sex couples to marry or enter into civil unions, does not have a procedure for trans people to change their documents to reflect their gender identity, and does not have civil laws prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people. The decree could also give legitimacy to “ conversion practices ” and exacerbate mental health issues that LGBT communities face in Peru.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, a group of UN human rights experts, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe have urged governments worldwide to reform medical classifications because pathologization is “one of the root causes behind the human rights violations that [LGBT people] face.”

The Peruvian government should discard this biased and unscientific decree and aim to implement the WHO’s updated classification of diseases with respect to sexual orientation and gender identity. It should also consult with Peru’s LGBT organizations about how best to ensure their communities’ rights to physical and mental health through rights-respecting and proportionate public policies.

Your tax deductible gift can help stop human rights violations and save lives around the world.

LGBT Rights

Mexico: Guanajuato Should Legally Recognize Trans Identities

“I Just Want to Contribute to Society”

The Need for Legal Gender Recognition in Tabasco, Mexico

a portrait of Sandra R., a transgender woman, with two family members

“They Can Harass Us Because of the Laws”

Violence and Discrimination against LGBT People in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Most Viewed

Sudan: Ethnic Cleansing in West Darfur

“I Was Hit So Many Times I Can’t Count”

A Dirty Investment

Gaza: Israelis Attacking Known Aid Worker Locations

On April 1, 2024, an Israeli attack in Deir Al-Balah in Gaza on a convoy of three World Central Kitchen vehicles killed seven aid workers.

Protecting Rights, Saving Lives

Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people in close to 100 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice

Get updates on human rights issues from around the globe. Join our movement today.

Every weekday, get the world’s top human rights news, explored and explained by Andrew Stroehlein.

Dusan Vlahovic - 4'

Vlahovic sends Juventus past Atalanta in Coppa Italia final

Juventus beat Atalanta 1-0 to win a record-extending 15th Coppa Italia on Wednesday as an early strike by Dusan Vlahovic earned Massimiliano Allegri's side their first trophy in three years.

Juve, who hold both the record for most Italian Cup finals played (22) and won (15), had not lifted any silverware since they won the competition in 2020-21, when they also beat Atalanta in the final.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.)

Allegri, meanwhile, became the first coach to win the Coppa Italia five times after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Roberto Mancini lifted the trophy on four occasions.

"Very happy for the boys, they brought joy to the club, to the fans and to me. Winning is never easy, but it is in our DNA," Allegri told a press conference.

"If I am no longer the Juventus coach next year, I will leave a strong team. The club will make its evaluations."

Vlahovic put Juventus in front in the fourth minute when he latched onto a pass from Andrea Cambiaso and broke inside the box to send the ball past goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi from around the penalty spot.

Vlahovic, who also found the net when they lost the final to Inter Milan in 2022 (4-2), became the third Juve player to score in two Coppa Italia finals after John Charles (1958-59, 1959-60) and Savino Bellini (1937-38, 1941-42).

"I find it difficult to speak, I can only thank everyone," Vlahovic told Mediaset.

"We know the difficulties we faced, in the end we achieved the objectives set at the beginning of the year. I'm sorry for the Scudetto, but Inter deservedly won it.

"We are very happy, but next year we must aim to win everything. Juventus' DNA requires this."

The Serbia striker thought he doubled the lead in the 72nd minute, nodding home a lofted Cambiaso cross after the ball bounced in front of Carnesecchi and went into the net, but the goal was disallowed for an offside.

Juve quickly switched to defending their lead, creating chances on the counter attack, while preventing Atalanta from registering a single shot on target in the entire game.

Gian Piero Gasperini's side had more possession throughout the match but an effort from outside the box by striker Ademola Lookman that hit the post in the 80th minute turned out to be their best chance.

Atalanta, who next Wednesday face Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final, have reached two different finals for the first time in a single season.

It was Atalanta's fifth straight Coppa Italia final defeat after they won their sole title in 1962-63.

Game Information

Fabio Maresca

Coppa Italia News

What is allegri's legacy at juventus, champions league final, premier league race: may viewing guide.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Your US State Privacy Rights
Children's Online Privacy Policy
Interest-Based Ads
About Nielsen Measurement
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
Disney Ad Sales Site
Work for ESPN
Corrections

IMAGES

Reading Analysis Worksheets
6+ Miscue Analysis Templates
40 Best Anchor Charts for Reading Comprehension
Discourse Analysis and Reading
Reading Assessment Error Analysis by Fantastically Fourth Grade
😱 Reading analysis example. How to Write an Analytical Essay

VIDEO

Cultural Analysis: Reading the World
How Can I Improve My Word Analysis Skills in Reading Instruction?
IELTS reading 'population viability analysis' solved|| Target ielts academy
Rethinking Picture Books for New Connections and Deeper Writing Lessons
HOW TO READ and ANALYZE A RESEARCH STUDY
The Hindu Editorial

COMMENTS

Reading & Writing to Analyze
Reading & Writing to Analyze. Analysis is a critical thinking skill you use quite often, in academic as well as professional and everyday reading and writing. You may analyze the argument in a text or article, the benefits of a business proposal, and/or the ideas offered in a news editorial or television news commentary.
What is Analytical Reading? Strategies & Examples
Why is analysis important in reading? The importance of analytical thinking in reading and writing has much deeper roots than you might expect. Reading analytically can help readers gain a deeper understanding of the text at hand, extract the true ideas, understand its structure and meaning, and analyze it critically, thus drawing the right ...
5 Strategies for Analyzing Texts
Reading is not only about reading a text with accuracy and comprehension; readers also need to think analytically about the text. To analyze a text, readers look at the characteristics of a text (how a writer organized and crafted the text). Early readers can analyze texts by noticing how a writer or illustrator created a silly character.
A Short Guide to Close Reading for Literary Analysis
Close reading is deep analysis of how a literary text works; it is both a reading process and something you include in a literary analysis paper, though in a refined form. Fiction writers and poets build texts out of many central components, including subject, form, and specific word choices. Literary analysis involves examining these ...
Reading for Analysis
Reading to Engage and Evaluate. As an effective critical reader you must be able to identify the important elements of a text and their function. To analyze means to break a text down into its parts to better understand it. When analyzing you notice both what the author is saying and how they are saying it. Looking deeply into a text beyond the ...
Analyzing
Analyzing is a vital skill for successful readers. Analyzing a text involves breaking down its ideas and structure to understand it better, think critically about it, and draw conclusions. This unit covers different strategies for analyzing print and digital media, as well as how to create graphic organizers to help you analyze what you read.
Reading and Analyzing Texts
The reading and writing practices that follow (sourcing, contextualization, close reading, and corroboration) promote student analysis of sources. Even though these practices are delineated here in a discrete fashion, it is important to consider that such strategies are not usually separated in the minds of historians.
Analytical Reading Unleashed: Delve Into Deeper Comprehension
TLDR Summary. Analytical reading involves actively engaging with a text, evaluating the author's intent, main arguments, and underlying assumptions, leading to deeper comprehension. Developing analytical reading skills can enhance cognitive functions, such as attention, memory, and critical thinking, and promote overall brain health.
Analytical Reading Skills
Analytical Reading Skills. Use LiteracyTA's analytical reading skills to investigate the rhetorical choices speakers and writers make, analyze their arguments, evaluate their evidence and reasoning, and examine how they use language and text structure to construct meaning. According to PARCC, "Close, analytic reading stresses engaging with a ...
Academic Guides: Academic Skills Center: Critical Reading
Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison "Critical reading generally refers to reading in a scholarly context, with an eye toward identifying a text or author's viewpoints, arguments, evidence, potential biases, and conclusions." This was great. I have just started my doctoral program today and I already feel surrounded by helpful people ...
Introduction: Critical Thinking, Reading, & Writing
Critical readers develop their own ideas on issues, based on careful analysis and response to others' ideas. The video below, although geared toward students studying for the SAT exam (Scholastic Aptitude Test used for many colleges' admissions), offers a good, quick overview of the concept and practice of critical reading.
1.3: Critical Reading and Rhetorical Analysis
Key Features of Critical Reading. Critical readers are able to interact with the texts they read through carefully listening, writing, conversation, and questioning. They do not sit back and wait for the meaning of a text to come to them, but work hard in order to create such meaning. Critical readers are not made overnight.
How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay
Step 1: Reading the text and identifying literary devices. The first step is to carefully read the text(s) and take initial notes. As you read, pay attention to the things that are most intriguing, surprising, or even confusing in the writing—these are things you can dig into in your analysis.
Inference And Analysis
Inference and Analysis. Inferences are based on evidence. To infer, we must collect evidence. And evidence is collected by the process of analysis. Analysis is a particular form of investigation. In general usage, analysis refers to any close, careful, or systematic examination. In the discussion here, the term "analysis" is used in its ...
Structural Analysis in Reading
Structural analysis is a learning strategy that aids students in decoding an unknown word by dividing the word into parts to discover its meaning. Using structural analysis can make students more ...
How to Analyze or Assess Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension is so affected by the readers' prior knowledge of the subject matter being read about and the language used to express those ideas (e.g., vocabulary, sentence structure, cohesion, text organization, literary devices, graphics), that focusing one's attention on which kinds of question the kids could answer is a fool's ...
Word Analysis to Expand Vocabulary Development
Word Analysis to Expand Vocabulary Development. When students engage in "word analysis" or "word study," they break words down into their smallest units of meaning — morphemes. Discover effective strategies for classroom word study, including the use of online tools, captioning, and embedded supports to differentiate instruction.
Contextual Analysis
Teacher explains to students why they will be learning this strategy. They will learn how to recognize clues to help add meanings to words they don't understand in the text. The clues will help them comprehend. Teacher demonstrates contextual analysis from examples in their text. Teacher reads aloud/signs a sentences containing an unfamiliar ...
Structural Analysis In Reading
One essential ability that is essential to comprehending and interpreting written materials is structural analysis. Readers can learn more about the author's intentions, the text's overall meaning, and the way ideas flow by dissecting a text's structure. Let's examine the significance of structural analysis in reading. 1. Enhanced ...
Using Miscue Analysis to Diagnose Reading Difficulties
Miscue Analysis for Diagnosing Reading Skills. Miscue analysis is a means to use a running record for diagnosis to identify students' specific difficulties. Not only is the running record a way to identify reading rate and reading accuracy, but it also is a way to assess reading behaviors and identify reading behaviors that need support.
Analysis: what it is and how to do it
Analysis is an important skill to learn and practise in English - it helps you to explore and understand the writer's craft. When we analyse a text, we are trying to understand how it works ...
Structural Analysis > Reading Tools
Structural analysis is a strategy that can be used to facilitate decoding as students become more proficient readers. ... Sanders, E. A., & Peyton, J. A. (2006). Paraeducator-supplemented instruction in structural analysis with text reading practice for second and third graders at risk for reading problems. Remedial and Special Education, 27 ...
CPI report: S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow all hit record highs after ...
All three major indexes surged to record highs Wednesday after new data showed that inflation cooled in April after ticking up recently. The S&P 500, tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite and blue-chip Dow ...
ANALYSIS: Boards Win in Delaware's 'Firm-Specific' Duty Ruling
Zuckerberg. The ruling clearly defined and limited Delaware's "firm-specific" fiduciary duties of the board, effectively taking the wind out of the sails of related shareholder litigation and proposals. Litigation on the issue of boards' fiduciary duties has risen 83% in the state since two precedential rulings from 1985 left some ...
Michael Cohen testifies during heated cross-examination in Trump hush
The confrontation between Michael Cohen and Trump lawyer Todd Blanche was the most anticipated moment in the trial, which is now speeding toward a conclusion.
R.F.K. Jr. Isn't a Spoiler Now, Poll Suggests, but He Could Be in
Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press. When Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Democrat-turned-independent candidate, announced his run for president, it was reasonable to think he might be a possible ...
10 colleges as good as the Ivy League—and much cheaper, says ...
These are the 10 new Ivies with the lowest average net price, according to Department of Education data: 1. University of Florida. 2. University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill. 3. Georgia ...
Peru Chooses Bigotry in Medical Services
Peru's government published a presidential decree on May 10 classifying trans identities as mental health conditions in the country's Essential Health Insurance Plan, which lists insurable ...
Juventus 1-0 Atalanta (May 15, 2024) Game Analysis
Juventusbeat Atalanta1-0 to win a record-extending 15th Coppa Italiaon Wednesday as an early strike by Dusan Vlahovicearned Massimiliano Allegri's side their first trophy in three years. Juve, who ...