name: critical_reading description: Evaluate claims, assumptions, and evidence quality before drawing final conclusions from academic text.

Critical Reading Skill

When to use this skill

Use this skill when:

• User asks for critical analysis of a paper
• User wants to evaluate the validity of claims
• User needs to assess research methodology
• User asks about limitations or potential issues

How to do critical reading

Step 1: Identify the main claim

• What is the paper's main argument?
• What is the central thesis?

Step 2: Evaluate assumptions

• What assumptions does the author make?
• Are these assumptions reasonable?
• Could alternative assumptions lead to different conclusions?

Step 3: Assess evidence quality

• What evidence supports the claims?
• Is the evidence sufficient?
• Are there gaps in the evidence?
• Is the methodology sound?

Step 4: Consider limitations

• What are the paper's limitations?
• How do these affect the conclusions?
• What would strengthen the work?

Step 5: Evaluate conclusions

• Do the conclusions follow from the evidence?
• Are there alternative interpretations?
• What are the implications?

Output format

## Critical Analysis

### Main Claim
[State the main claim]

### Strengths
- [Strength 1]
- [Strength 2]

### Weaknesses/Concerns
- [Weakness 1]
- [Weakness 2]

### Assumptions
- [Assumption 1]
- [Assumption 2]

### Limitations
- [Limitation 1]
- [Limitation 2]

### Overall Assessment
[Balanced conclusion about the work's value]

Tips

• Be objective and fair
• Distinguish between factual errors and interpretation differences
• Consider the context and field standards
• Provide constructive feedback