Demonstrating a critical stance requires readers to stand apart from the text and consider it objectively. It involves a range of tasks including critical evaluation; comparing and contrasting; and understanding the impact of such features as irony, humor, and organization. According to this paper, the selection of appropriate literature is a crucial initial step in developing a critical stance. The paper delineates the following 16 teaching strategies to engage students in responding to literature: questioning the author; students develop own questions; teacher-guided questioning; teacher modeling of strategies; journals; create a strong response; sketch-to-stretch; defining good literature; collaboration; graphic organizers; sustained silent reading; engage students in peer response; alternatives to summarization; read aloud short stories; literature circles; and other ideas for developing a critical stance. (Contains 19 references.