ANALYTICAL READING: MAIN CHARACTERISTICS AND OBJECTIVES - LITERATURE - 2025

The analytical reading or structural reading is a kind of reading that seeks to approach a text critically, prioritizing objectives could have been the author expressing the information contained in this work, and how it relates to the environment.

Through analytical reading, more importance is given to the motivations that led the author to give the message found within his work. Understanding how the message is structured is also more important than just identifying the content of the message.

Analytical reading has several objectives: to relate the text with other similar works, to identify the link of the information given by the author with the society of a given moment, to deeply analyze the reason for the structure in which the information is expressed, among others aspects.

Objectives of analytical reading

Identify the type of material

Analytical reading seeks to quickly determine what type of material is being read. There are different types of texts, which have different codes through which they express their information.

Although analytical reading always seeks a critical approach to the text, it will not be the same approach to, for example, a fictional text, in which allegories and symbolisms abound, than to an academic text, whose language may be more direct and technical.

Once you have determined what type of text you are holding in your hands, it will be possible to exercise a more productive approach; For this reason, analytical reading seeks to quickly identify which are the essential characteristics of the text to be read.

Determine which problems the author wants to solve

Authors always keep a specific objective when writing their works, and these goals are expressed through the discourse they pose throughout the text.

The analytical reading seeks to identify the problems that the authors pose. The intention is to carefully observe the author's speech, avoiding paying attention only to the surface of the structure, and analyzing the essence of the message that the author intends to express through his book.

Identify the relationship between the parts of the material

Analytical reading is characterized by understanding the text studied as a complete structure, as a whole.

Each chapter, sub-chapter, annex or comment included in the book is seen as a fundamental element of the work and closely related to the rest of the sections of the text.

By conceiving the text as a whole, it is possible to better understand the implications of each section and the information contained therein, as well as the structure of the discourse and the reasons for which the author decided to express his / her ideas can be better understood. that way.

Understand the relationship between a book and others like it

It is convenient to conceive written works as elements that are related to each other, especially when it comes to texts that deal with similar topics.

Analytical reading seeks to understand the relationship that exists between a book in question and the other related books. It is about contextualizing the information contained in a work in relation to other works, which may be complementary or adverse.

By relating a book to similar ones in terms of themes, periods, inclinations of thought of authors or forms of discourse, among other elements, it is possible to achieve a greater understanding of the context of the information in a book and its implication in society.

Identify the relationship between a book and society

Analytical reading seeks to relate works with similar characteristics to each other, in order to achieve a better analysis.

Similarly, analytical reading also seeks to understand the details of a work and to identify the associations that exist between the themes or characters raised in the text, and the social actors of a specific community.

Each character, section, chapter, or even each discursive form, can be related to some intrinsic element of a society.

One of the objectives of analytical reading is to understand these relationships, in order to better understand the information in the work with the social environment of a given moment.

Characteristics of analytical reading

Usually needs several readings

When practicing analytical reading, a first approach to the text is usually made, with the intention of identifying the basic information quickly.

This approach consists of only browsing the work, to determine aspects such as what type of book it is, what is the structure on which the information is distributed, what type of discourse the author uses, and other data related to the forms.

After this approach, a deeper reading is made, in which the actors, examples, sentences and all the information offered by the work are analyzed, in relation to the data of the work itself, and also in relation to the context Social.

Amerita annotations and diagrams

Analytical reading aims to make a critical and deep analysis of a particular work. To do this, it uses tools that allow the reader to make a systematic and methodical study of the work in hand.

Therefore, when doing an analytical reading, diagrams, summaries, annotations, highlighting of important aspects are usually made, among other practices that are useful for the reader and that help them to carry out a critical, orderly and exhaustive reading.

Seek to understand before generating opinions

The main objective of the reader who carries out an analytical reading is to fully understand the work he reads, its social implications, its relationship with other works and, above all, the problems raised by the author, with all the characteristics it has.

When practicing analytical reading, the reader should not pursue the generation of opinions about the book without first understanding it completely.

For this, it may be necessary to approach other complementary works, which will help to understand the implications of a text.

The reader who practices analytical reading will do everything in his power to assimilate the analyzed text before giving his opinions, or admitting to agree or disagree with the author.

References

1. National Autonomous University of Mexico. "Literal, Inferential, and Critical Reading" on Coursera. Retrieved on September 3, 2017 from Coursera: es.coursera.org.
2. "Ways to read a book" at Universidad de Antioquia. Retrieved on September 3, 2017 from the University of Antioquia: docencia.udea.edu.co.
3. "Analytical reading" at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Retrieved on September 3, 2017 from the National Autonomous University of Mexico: portalacademico.cch.unam.mx.
4. Miller, S. "What is analytical reading?" on eHow in Spanish. Retrieved on September 3, 2017 from eHow in Spanish: ehowenespanol.com.
5. Thompson, V. "What Is an Analytical Reading?" in The Pen and The Pad. Retrieved on September 3, 2017 from The Pen and The Pad: penandthepad.com.
6. "Analytical Reading Skills" in Literacy. Retrieved on September 3, 2017 from Literacy: literacyta.com.
7. "What makes a good reader?" in Institute of Analytical Reading. Retrieved on September 3, 2017 from Institute of Analytical Reading: analyticalreading.org.