Reading Strategies

Page 1

Your method for breaking up the assignment will depend on the type of reading. If the text is very dense and packed with unfamilliar terms and concepts you may need to read no more than five or ten pages in one sitting so that you can truly understand and process the information.

With more user friendly texts, will be able to handle longer sections twenty to forty pages for instance. And if you have a highly engaging reading assignment such as a novel you cannot put down, you may be able to read lenghty passages in one sitting.

It also makes sense to preview each assignment well in advance to asess its difficulty level and to determine how much reading time to set aside.

When you are assigned a reserve reading, download it ahead of time (and let your instructor know if you have trouble accessing it). Skim through it to get a rough idea of how much time you will need to read the assignment in full.

The other key component of planning is setting a purpose. Knowing what you want to get out of a reading assignment helps you determine ow much time to spend on it. It also helps you to stay focused during those occasional moments when it is late.

How did my instructor frame the assignment? Often instructors will tell you what they expect you t get out of the reading.

How deeply do I need to understand the reading? For some reading assignments you may be expected to form a general understanding but not necessarily master the content.

How does this assignment relate to other course readings or to concepts discussed in class? Your instructor may make some of these connections explicitly but if not try to draw connections on your own? It helps to take detailed notes both when in class and when you read.

How might I use this text again in the future? If you are assigned to read about a topic that has always interested you, your reading assignment might help you develop ideas for a future research paper. Some reading ssignments provide valuable tips or summaries worth bookmarking for future reference.Think about what you can take from the reading that will stay with you.

Improving Comprehension.

For any expository writing- non fiction, informal writing- your first comprehension goal is to identify the main points and relate any details to those main points.Because college level texts can be challenging you will also need to monitor your reading comprehension

you will need t stop periodocally and assess how well you understand what you are reading. FInally you can improve comprehension by taking time to determine which strategies work best for you and putting tose strategies into practice.

Identifying the main points.

Your primary comprehension goal is to identify the main point : the most important idea that the writer wants to communicate and often states early on.

After identifying the main point you will find supporting points, the details facts and explanation that develop and clarify the main point.

The intoduction usually presents the writer's theisis, the idea or hypothesis the writer is trying to prove. Headings and subheadings can help you understand how the writer has organized support for his or her thesis. Additionally academic journal articles often include a summary at the beginning, called an abstract, and electronic databases include summaries of articles, too.

1.Summarize- At the end of each section Pasuse to summarize the main points in a few sentences. If you have trouble doing so revisit that section.

2.Ask and answer questions