ACADEMIC READINGReading for Speed and Content

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Lecture Structure The Why and What of Reading Academic Reading

Scanning Skimming Studying Tips for Success

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Why & What of Reading3

Reading for Research Purposes Your aim is to maximise comprehension. Reading is a journey to be absorbed,

not a destination to be reached. Essay writing requires research

How do you tell if a document is relevant? Do you need to read everything on a subject?

Determine how thoroughly you need to understand a text.

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Academic Reading 5

Reading Styles Researching an topic can return many

results. How do you quickly determine which are

relevant and which are not? Some authors seem to be paid by the

word. How do you short cut overly long articles?

Some texts are only partially relevant. How do you quickly identify relevant

passages? It is easy to get distracted and stray

from the topic. How do maintain focus on your topic?

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Reading Styles

Scanning – glancing over the text to pick out key words and phrases. Fast.

Skimming – reading selected parts of a text in a systematic way. Fast.

Studying – carefully reading the full text. Slow.

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Scanning Benefits Enables you to quickly find references to

key ideas throughout a text. Names, statistics, theories, etc.

Aids selection of reference material for research assignments.

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Scanning Techniques Look through a document, without

reading every word, seeking specific words or phrases.

Keeping a visual image of the word or phrase in mind will make it more visible on the page.

Remember numbers can be presented in numerals as well as words.

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Scanning Techniques Skim long documents first to narrow

down areas in which key words or information are likely to appear.

Try reading only highlighted words and phrases (bold, italics, underlined, etc).

Scan vertically as much as horizontally, to avoid reading the text.

When you find a key word read the sentence or paragraph, as necessary.

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Exercise: Scanning11

Scan this text to find the key themes. What are they?

INSERT A QUOTE FROM A PRESCRIBED TEXT, REFERENCED CLEARLY

Skimming Benefits Quickly review of a document for basic

comprehension. Eases selection of reference material. May be useful for revision.

Skim to check understanding and recollection of themes.

Study sections that are unclear or weak. Skim additional texts by particular

authors.

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Skimming Benefits13

Skim the content page or chapter/section headings for bias or tone. Wording choice for titles is deliberate .

Skim for the main claim and evidence of arguments.

Skim the introduction or abstract for: The thesis statement. Limitations Methodology

Determine if the article is relevant.

Skimming Techniques Title.

Peter B. Evans, 1971. “National Autonomy and Economic Development: Critical Perspectives on Multinational Corporations in Poor Countries” in International Organisation, 25, pp 675-692

First sentence of each paragraph. A coherent synopsis of the paragraph. Paragraphs focus on one point. If begins with a question or anecdote, read last

sentence.

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Exercise: Skimming15

Read the first line of each paragraph in the reading.

Does this provide an overview of the themes of the extract?

Skimming Techniques

First and last paragraphs. Introduction and Conclusion.

Section headings and sub-headings only. Indicates the content and perspective of

the text.

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Benefits: Studying Enables optimum comprehension.

What else did you expect?

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Techniques: Studying Scan and skim the document first.

Provides a gist. Provides questions, for your study. May enable you to skip sections.

To increase speed when studying Avoid re-reading sentences. Avoid subvocalising. Following the text physically. Take breaks.

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Technique: Journal Articles Read the abstract.

Lists the main facts and arguments, methodology used and conclusion.

If no abstract available, read the introduction and concluding paragraphs

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Exercise: Skimming a Journal Abstract20

From the following journal abstract pull out the thesis statement, any limitations the author will use, the methodology and the conclusions drawn. Does this present a good summary of the piece?

Technique: Books21

Read the dust jacket for relevant content. Contents page for relevant chapters.

Titles reveal author bias or tone. Check chapter and section headings and sub-

headings. Read the first and last paragraph of relevant

chapters/sections for an overview of content. Study only relevant chapters, skim the rest for

relevant information. Scholarly book reviews provide succinct synopses.

Technique: Reports22

Check executive summary or foreword. Review the table of contents for separate

chapters on analysis and data.

Tips for Success Avoid distractions. Skim all documents to get the gist. Study texts for the greatest

comprehension. Scan documents for small items of

information. Skim reading highlights areas for further

study. Check scholarly book reviews for book

synopses.

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