WK 1 GENERALIST INTERVENTION MODEL

11/26/23, 12:47 AM Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison – The Savvy Student

https://waldenacademicskills.wordpress.com/2020/02/20/reading-for-analysis-and-comparison/ 1/8

THE SAVVY STUDENT THE SAVVY STUDENT

Academic Skills You Need to Succeed

Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison

Posted on February 20, 2020October 7, 2020 by waldenacademicskills in Reading 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. Critical reading means evaluating what you have read using your knowledge as a scholar. You may look at the quality of the writing, the quality of the research, and the persuasiveness of the arguments, among other things. Finally, critical reading is an active process by which a scholar rigorously and systematically questions the literature with the goal of assessing credibility and validity.

Whereas reading retention and comprehension involve remembering and understanding the main ideas, critical reading begins the process of taking action. You are not simply absorbing the information; instead, you are interpreting, categorizing, questioning, and weighing the value of that information. In other words, you are engaging in higher-order thinking and the upper reaches of Bloom’s taxonomy.

Critical reading can serve many functions. Sometimes you examine a text critically to analyze it, sometimes to compare it to other texts, and sometimes to evaluate it. As you get more advanced in your studies, you read for all of these simultaneously. In this resource, we have isolated the functions to be�er explain each one.

Reading for Analysis

To analyze means to break a text down into its parts to be�er understand it. When you read for analysis, you notice the components of a text and how they work together. As you examine those components, you make inferences and interpret the message of the text (both the overt message and the subtler or hidden message). Ask yourself questions like these while reading:

Audience and Purpose

Who is the intended audience? (e.g., scientists, academics, educated laypeople, the general population) What is the author’s purpose? (e.g., to inform, to entertain, to persuade, to share new research)

Argument and Evidence



11/26/23, 12:47 AM Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison – The Savvy Student

https://waldenacademicskills.wordpress.com/2020/02/20/reading-for-analysis-and-comparison/ 2/8

What is the thesis (h�ps://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/thesisstatements)? What are the main points that support the thesis? What evidence (h�ps://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/evidence)is used?

Methods (for Research Studies)

How was the study conducted? Is it qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods?

Language and Tone

What is the tone the author uses? (e.g., formal, informal, critical, objective) How does the author’s use of language and tone support the audience, purpose, and argument? (e.g., specialized terminology, simple word choice, words with emotional connotations)

Reading for Comparison

When analyzing a text, you engage in noticing—noticing what the authors are saying and how they are saying it. Scholars do not take a single article, book, or study as the complete truth on a topic. They read widely on the issue to get a well-rounded understanding. When you are critically reading for comparison, you widen the view beyond the single source and consider the text in relation to other texts you have read on the same topic. You may also consider what you have learned in previous courses.

This process of comparison is often called synthesis. Ultimately, scholars draw together many sources and articulate unique and insightful conclusions based on that evidence. Synthesis (h�ps://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/evidence/synthesis)i s the hallmark of successful scholarly writing, and it is much easier to do well if you begin as an active and aware reader.

If you are reading multiple sources (such as for a literature review), use an organizational tool like a matrix (h�ps://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/assignments/literaturereview/organization) to keep track of important details and easily compare them. Ask yourself questions like these while reading:

Audience and Purpose

Are the authors writing for a similar audience and purpose?

Argument and Evidence

Are the authors advocating a similar or opposing position? How does the evidence in each article reinforce, contradict, or complicate the other?

Methods (for Research Studies)

How do the studies’ methods compare?

Language and Tone

How is the tone communicated in each piece?

11/26/23, 12:47 AM Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison – The Savvy Student

https://waldenacademicskills.wordpress.com/2020/02/20/reading-for-analysis-and-comparison/ 3/8

Continue reading about Critical Reading in Hillary’s next post: Critical Reading for Evaluation (h�ps://waldenacademicskills.wordpress.com/2020/02/24/critical-reading-for-evaluation/).

Hillary Wentworth joined Walden in 2010 as a writing instructor in the Writing Center (h�ps://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter). She now serves as a contributing faculty member in the Academic Skills Center (h�ps://academicguides.waldenu.edu/academic-skills-center) and as a learning architect developing Walden’s academic programs. She holds a BA in English from the University of New Hampshire and an MFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Hillary lives in Maine with her husband and young son.

Can you better apply critical reading to your walden course(s) after reading this blog?

Tagged Reading, Success Strategies

Published by waldenacademicskills View all posts by waldenacademicskills

33 thoughts on “Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison”

1. George�e Deyonou says: April 18, 2020 at 10:54 pm Thank you for your article.

Reply

11/26/23, 12:47 AM Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison – The Savvy Student

https://waldenacademicskills.wordpress.com/2020/02/20/reading-for-analysis-and-comparison/ 4/8

2. Vangela Evans says: April 24, 2020 at 12:31 am Thank you for the information given on the topic.

Reply 1.

Sara says: June 2, 2023 at 11:49 am Thank you!

Reply 3.

Charles Nwoye says: April 28, 2020 at 7:17 am Very satisfactory

Reply 4.

Ifie F Ogbechie says: May 29, 2020 at 12:18 am Intuitive and informative.

Reply 5.

Ira says: August 9, 2020 at 6:50 pm Informative. I am appreciative. Thanks!

Reply 6.

Crystal Addison says: August 16, 2020 at 9:18 pm Very interesting and informative thank you for these helpful tools.

Reply 7.

Ela Marquez says: October 17, 2020 at 4:04 pm Thank you

Reply 8.

Celso Gabriel says: October 29, 2020 at 9:03 pm Very insightful. Thank you for sharing it,

Reply

11/26/23, 12:47 AM Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison – The Savvy Student

https://waldenacademicskills.wordpress.com/2020/02/20/reading-for-analysis-and-comparison/ 5/8

9. Lauren Cooper says: November 20, 2020 at 11:31 am This article was very informative. I feel that it has become clear to me what details I should pay a�ention to while doing research. Thank you.

Reply 10.

Kenneth Mercury says: November 23, 2020 at 6:27 pm This was very helpful and informative.

Reply 11.

Karen Goodwin says: December 3, 2020 at 1:24 am Very helpful and I’m sure I will refer back to this.

Reply 12.

Lore�a Cassidy says: January 3, 2021 at 5:24 pm Thank you I am just ge�ing ready to start back to school and your information is helping to get reacclimated!

Reply 13.

Jean-Pierre Abedi says: March 1, 2021 at 4:50 pm This was great. I have just started my Doctoral program today and I already feel surrounded by helpful people and tools. Your article is highly appreciated.

Reply 1.

waldenacademicskills says: March 2, 2021 at 4:28 pm That’s great Jean-Pierre! Best wishes with your Doctoral journey!

Reply 14.

Tonya Sheppard says: March 7, 2021 at 1:49 am Thank you, very helpful and necessary information

Reply 15.

Sco� Amerson says: August 23, 2021 at 6:08 pm I find that the article was well wri�en but could have been be�er in some points. I am new to this,so I will try another way to see it.

Reply

11/26/23, 12:47 AM Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison – The Savvy Student

https://waldenacademicskills.wordpress.com/2020/02/20/reading-for-analysis-and-comparison/ 6/8

16. Sarah Bourne says: September 3, 2021 at 5:51 pm This article was very informative and provided insightful information that will be able to assist me in my future studies.

Reply 17.

Njuno, P.N. says: September 4, 2021 at 2:06 pm Reading for comprehension only is like enjoying food that has already been prepared while critical reading is like being in the kitchen where the food is being prepared as you watch to understand how it is being prepared.

Reply 18.

Keundrea Felton says: March 4, 2022 at 11:09 am This was very helpful and needed and I am an author, and this information is well needed. Proper reading techniques helps with engaging the reader’s interest and a�ention. People sometimes look for flaws in writing and when they can enjoy reading without being distracted by improper grammar, that makes a difference.

Reply 19.

Demetrice Smith says: June 5, 2022 at 10:49 pm This was very helpful and informative. I am appreciative for student resources

Reply 20.

Leacie Anderson says: August 24, 2022 at 9:19 pm This was very helpful and informative. Thank you.

Reply 21.

Kurstont Thompson says: September 1, 2022 at 8:00 pm The information shared regarding critical thinking was great.

Reply 22.

Nkechi Nikki Ukwandu says: November 29, 2022 at 10:02 pm Understanding and enjoying a well-wri�en piece is key but the ability to critique and synthesize a well-wri�en piece of work is incredible, Writing is an art and I love to read. I am warming up for this nervous wrecking Journey and I am persuaded that it is worth it. Time will tell. Thanks for your insight

Reply

11/26/23, 12:47 AM Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison – The Savvy Student

https://waldenacademicskills.wordpress.com/2020/02/20/reading-for-analysis-and-comparison/ 7/8

23. Tammy Arterberry says: March 4, 2023 at 10:14 am Critical thinking is important to the ongoing learner. Thank you for enlightening me on the bloom terminology and how reach uses the Walden University writing center.

Reply 24.

Beverly Williams says: March 15, 2023 at 7:52 pm This information you shared was much needed. Thank, I will be using everything I have learned

Reply 25.

Beverly Williams says: March 15, 2023 at 8:16 pm Love.

Reply 26.

stephanie cox says: March 28, 2023 at 10:29 am HELPFUL

Reply 27.

Wilson Kinau says: May 30, 2023 at 5:56 am This is a very good head start. Nothing be�er than this, Amazing!

Reply 28.

Allieu Tommy says: June 14, 2023 at 9:14 am It is great and useful for this program.

Reply 29.

Randle says: August 10, 2023 at 10:25 pm Intuitive information, I have to say.

Reply 30.

Randle says: August 10, 2023 at 10:27 pm Intuitive information, I have to say. Hilllary Wentworth I am your biggest fan. Fan ++

Reply

11/26/23, 12:47 AM Critical Reading for Analysis and Comparison – The Savvy Student

https://waldenacademicskills.wordpress.com/2020/02/20/reading-for-analysis-and-comparison/ 8/8

31. Peter L Taylor says: November 21, 2023 at 4:30 am I was thrown off by the split infinitive in your first sentence!! See under ‘Reading for analysis’ above. Otherwise it’s all good, with excellent advice.

Reply