1. Remind the meaning of critical thinking
2. Distinguishing facts and opinions
3. Examine the accuracy of facts
4. Examine whether facts are relevant to opinions
5. Identify logical flaws and fallacies
6. Identify the validity of implicit premises
7. Come up with primitive well-reasoned conclusions about articles
8. Ask how to further improve an argument and what facts can diminish this argument
9. Detecting author's biases
10. Keep an open mind and challenge preconceived conclusion
11. Try to explain why I accept or reject a conclusion
12. Come up with final conclusions, but keep in mind that all conclusions are challengeable
Explanation:
First, as new critical readers, we need to remind ourselves the definition of critical thinking as a major guideline of the following steps. The definition of critical thinking in Dictionary.com is that "thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence". For those people who can use critical thinking as their second nature, they don't need this step anymore.
The real critical reading starts from the second step. Lots of information flows into our mind when we are reading. Distinguishing facts and opinions is the first step to keep us away from confusion. Facts are objective information that can be verified. For example, "it's 30℃ outside" is a fact because this information is based on verifiable data. However, some people may think 30℃ is comfortable and some may think it is too hot since they have different opinions. Feeling is subjective and it is unverifiable in this situation. Opinions change according to a person's judgments.
When we are able to distinguish facts and opinions, we need to look closer to each of them. Classify an information as a fact does not mean we acknowledge the information is true and accurate. As commoners, we may not have many methods to verified the accuracy of facts. The most efficient way for us to verify information is to check where the information original come from. Some integrity sources, such as Wall Street Journal, Economist, Bloomberg and New York Times, are usually more accurate because reputation is an invaluable asset for them.
Steps 5 and 6 are very similar. After we examine the reliability of facts we should try to link the facts and opinions. Some authors may use solid facts to mislead readers to some opinions. For example, "the temperature is very low, so the weather is bad" is a misleading argument. Readers may think temperature and weather are relevant in some way at the first glance but they are technically two different measurements. This is a logical flaw or fallacy.
Almost every argument has some implicit premises. For example, “I have been to White House, so I have been toWashington D.C” is true under an implicit premise, White House is in WashingtonD.C. If White House is not in Washington D.C, the argument above must be wrong. Implicit premises make our conversion more efficient but an experienced author can set some untrue implicit premises to mislead reader to an opinion he liked. Ignore the implicit premises is very risky in reading and it usually lead us to the wrong conclusion. I personally think this is the hardest part of critical reading.
After readers complete all the process above, they can gradually draw a primitive well-reasoned conclusion. However, this is not the end yet.
To further improve the argument or conclusion, readers can ask themselves what additional information will strengthen or diminish the argument or conclusion. All the scientific conclusion can be proved wrong if some scenarios happen. This principle can be used in any well-reasoned conclusion.
Human beings are not absolute rational, so authors may present facts in favor of his opinions and intentionally or unintentionally ignore the facts against his opinions. Nobody would surprise if FOX News and Washington Post have different opinions in Obamacare. Detecting author's biases is an unavoidable process to justify the opinion and a background check is always a useful tool.
Now, we are approaching to the end. As a critical reader, we should always keep an open mind to welcome new information and remind ourselves that although we already have a pretty solid conclusion but everything is challengeable.
Again! Keep self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective.