In-depth instructions on critical reading with lots of links to more reading guides and activities. A good site to help improve reading skills to become a better writer.

Aimed particularly towards writing about non-fiction, this site describes ways to think about what you read so you can write more clearly. Focuses on analyzing the "ways of thinking" that an author uses so you can evaluate the validity...

This is a video lesson "Reading is fundamental" featuring Shaquille O'Neal. It discusses why critical reading skills are important. A list of learning objectives is provided.

This lesson focuses on the importance and purpose of reading. It features an article entitled "The Benefits of Leisure Reading."

This instructional activity focuses on the types of reading material and their distinguishing features. It also included two videos including the key features from a newspaper story video and a video that defines scholarly articles.

This lesson focuses on identifying thesis statements including explicit and implicit thesis statements, "How to Identify the Thesis Statement" (video), topic sentences, paragraph parts graphic, and a self-check activity.

This lesson focuses on how to write a summary including strategies for annotation, paraphrasing the thesis statement, distinguishing major ideas from minor ones, and picking appropriate quotes. It also provides videos including "How to...

This is an open textbook created to assist students in their writing efforts. Topics covered include critical reading, rhetorical analysis, writing arguments, steps in the writing process, rhetorical modes, using credible sources, citing...

Discussion of the critical reading skills needed in Social Studies, although the skills discussed can apply to a variety of areas. This is part of a larger site containing numerous lesson plans for Social Studies, and this page is really...

Here, critically read the text of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" with the help of accompanying questions about characterization, symbolism, plot, and narration. Organized into five pages, this website allows readers to...

The full text of Richard Sheridan's "The Critic." Includes an introduction with information on Sheridan's life and works.

A nonfiction article where students read about Julie Codispoti, assistant curator at the United States Polar Rock Repository, located at Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center. The article provides an overview of Antarctic...

This lesson focuses on strategies for active reading such as annotating your texts, reading multiple times, and using your prior knowledge.

Tutorial site for students that teaches them strategies so they can read faster. This then makes the student a more effective reader.

This writing and reading tutorial provides a detailed explanation of the difference between fiction and nonfiction in rhetoric.

This article discusses the characteristics of fiction and the expectations that readers have.

This brief article explains perspective, types of narrators, and the elements of fiction.

If you're looking for a way to engage students in analyzing and evaluating evidence, rather than simply piling up information, this tool may be a boon. Students can use it to construct an argument, rate the quality of resources, and...