Final answer:
Reading is an active communication process involving experience, interpretation, and evaluation by the reader. Critical analysis, questioning, and bridging concepts within a text are part of this interactive relationship which moves beyond passive absorption of information.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Reading as an Act of Communication
Reading is an act of communication that involves a dynamic interaction between the text and the reader. It is not simply a passive absorption of information, but an active process of experience, interpretation, and evaluation. As readers engage with a text, they bring their own experiences and knowledge to interpret and make sense of what they are reading. This process requires them to analyze the text's language, structure, and meaning, to question its logic and credibility, and to draw connections across various concepts.
Whether reading literature, advertising, or even text messages, we often find that text can be multidimensional. It invites readers to analyze and interpret, considering the interplay between verbal and nonverbal elements, the patterns of organization, and how these features appeal to different audiences. Critical reading is about examining different parts of the text as they relate to the whole, supporting ideas with evidence, and drawing conclusions based on this analysis.
An excellent strategy to engage critically with a text includes responding or 'talking back' to it, whether through verbalization, making notes, or composing a critical response. This interaction builds a dialogue between the reader and the text, creating a deeper understanding and forming a symbiotic unity between writing and reading. To avoid passive reading, it's important to be an active, engaged reader who constructs information bridges within the text and across all related knowledge encountered.