1. Determine reading purpose and
rate before beginning.
2. Intend to remember what you
read and take notes.
3. Use SQ3R
4. Know your textbook and how to
use it.
5. Learn to predict, clarify, and
summarize.
6.Question while you read-read to
answer the questions.
7. Read then recite what you
read.
8. Discuss what you read.
9. Review what you already know
about the topic before reading.
10. Watch for “signal words” that
indicate main ideas and important details.
11. Remember the results of your
learning styles assessment.
12. Choose reading tools that
focus on your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
Reading
Reading is a primary source for
gaining information and learning. Just as there are any number of ways and
reasons to do anything, so it is with reading. To learn, apply, and master
specific reading strategies is to make study time more efficient and effective.
It is time well-spent. In fact, it is guaranteed to save you time in the long
run.
There are numerous aids that you
can use to increase your reading “brain power.” Pre-reading techniques give you
an “overview” and help you determine the importance of the materials as well as
your purpose and rate for reading. Flexible reading habits lead to quality
study skills and increased memory. Learning how to survey textbooks, skim, spot
“signal words,” find main ideas, check for comprehension, and read
illustrations will improve your understanding and grades. So, give the following
reading hints and methods a try, and soon they will become habits you’ll want
to keep.
Determining Reading
Purpose
There are many ways to do any one
thing-many approaches to solving a problem, painting a picture, and achieving
desired results. Reading for different purposes is no different. You probably
would not read a newspaper in the same manner and with the same goal as you
would read a science textbook. You would read a pamphlet about how to construct
a bookshelf differently than you would a novel or short story.
It is very important that
the purpose and kind of material be appropriate for your reading speed. First,
determine the type of material you are going to read. Find out if it is:
- new information
- review material/information
- purely for enjoyment
- fiction
- nonfiction
- technical
Secondly, set your purpose for
reading the selection by asking
yourself:
“WHY AM I
READING THIS?”
- for a test
- for enjoyment
- for the main ideas
- to discuss later
- to get an overall, general view
“WHAT IS
MY END GOAL?”
- mastery of subject
- understanding the concept
- understanding the plot/characters
“WHAT AM I EXPECTED TO REMEMBER?”
- details
- author’s mood, opinion, intent
- sequence of events
- cause/effect
- relationships
Once you clearly understand your
goal and the type of reading paterial, match these with appropriate reading
rate.
In
summary:
1. Determine type of material
2. Set a purpose
3. Decide reading rate
4. Read
Frender, G. (2004). Learning to learn. Nashville, TN: Incentive
Publications
