Reading Strategies

14. Reacting to Reading: Making Judgements (Both Sides Now)

Readers increase their understanding by reviewing what they have read, reflecting on what they have learned, and asking questions about the significance.

To make judgments, readers ask questions to help them process information, assess the importance and relevance of the information, and apply it in a new context. Evaluating is a skill that readers use when reading and critically thinking about a particular text. Readers make value judgments about the validity and accuracy of the ideas and information, the logic of a writer’s argument, the quality of a writer’s style, the effectiveness of the text organization, the reasonableness of events and actions, and more.

While you are reading any text, make note of any questions that come to mind. Many courses have a forum where you can post questions. Classmates and teachers will read and respond to your question. Also, you may respond to the questions that other students post. Some of these questions can be answered directly from the text, sometimes by making an inference about the reading. Other times the question will be answered using information that is found outside of course material. All of the questions and answers will help you develop a deeper understanding of the material and concepts. A question that is 'on the lines' is one that can be answered within the text, 'among or between the lines' questions can be answered by making inferences, 'beyond the lines' questions are answered by finding information that is not in the text.

Editorials, magazine articles, and reference materials often present one side or viewpoint on a particular
issue, or limit one of the viewpoints. Therefore you may need to read several short selections on
the same issue or topic to fully consider both sides of an issue before making a judg e ment based on the
evidence provided. You can make a T-Chart with the question you have across the top and evidence in support and evidence opposed in the two arms.

Underneath this chart you could make a decision and provide the reasons for the decision you made.