---
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