How do you deal with conflicting or contradictory information in your reading?

1 Identify your purpose and audience

Before you start reading or writing, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and who you are addressing. Your purpose and audience will influence your choice of sources, tone, style, and structure. For example, if you are writing an academic essay, you will need to use credible and relevant sources, adopt a formal and objective tone, follow a logical and coherent structure, and cite your sources properly. If you are writing a blog post, you might use more informal and personal language, include anecdotes and examples, and invite feedback from your readers.

2 Evaluate your sources

One of the biggest challenges of critical reading and writing is finding and using reliable and valid sources of information. You need to evaluate your sources critically, not just accept them at face value. Some questions to ask are: Who is the author and what are their credentials and affiliations? What is the date and context of publication? What is the main argument and evidence of the source? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the source? How does the source relate to your purpose and audience?

3 Compare and contrast different perspectives

Another challenge of critical reading and writing is dealing with conflicting or contradictory information in your reading. You need to compare and contrast different perspectives, not just accept or reject them. Some strategies to do this are: Identify the main points of agreement and disagreement among the sources. Analyze the reasons and assumptions behind the different views. Evaluate the quality and relevance of the evidence and arguments. Synthesize the information and draw your own conclusions.

4 Develop your own position and argument

One of the goals of critical reading and writing is to develop your own position and argument on the topic, not just summarize or repeat what others have said. You need to demonstrate your critical thinking skills, not just your knowledge and comprehension. Some steps to do this are: Define your thesis statement and main claims. Support your claims with evidence and reasoning. Anticipate and address possible objections and counterarguments. Use clear and precise language and transitions.

6 Revise and edit your work

One of the final steps of critical reading and writing is revising and editing your work, not just submitting or publishing it. You need to revise and edit your work, not just proofread it. Some tips to do this are: Read your work aloud and check for clarity, coherence, and flow. Ask for feedback from others and incorporate their suggestions. Use a checklist or a rubric to evaluate your work against the criteria and standards. Use online tools or resources to check for grammar, spelling, and plagiarism.