Critical reading is primarily the process of

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Critical reading means actively engaging with a text to interpret and evaluate what the writer is trying to communicate. It’s not about reproducing words or scanning for easy answers; it’s about understanding the writer’s message and how that message is built. When you read critically, you look for the main claim, the reasons and evidence used to support it, any assumptions the author makes, and the purpose and audience behind the writing. You also consider whether the conclusions follow from the evidence and what counterarguments might exist. For example, in a persuasive passage about a policy, a critical reader asks what data backs the claim, what the author might be leaving out, and whether the sources are trustworthy. This is why analyzing the writer's message is the best fit. Copying text misses interpretation, skimming misses important details, and ignoring details eliminates the evaluation that critical reading demands.