EFFECTIVE READING STRATGIES

EFFECTIVE READING STRATGIES Instructor: Denise Davis Six Common Reading Myths MYTH 1: I HAVE TO READ EVERY WORDIf, in reading, you exert as much effort in comprehending meaningless words as you do important ones, you limit not only your reading speed but your comprehension as well.MYTH 2: READING ONCE IS ENOUGHSkim once as rapidly as possible to determine the main idea and to identify those parts that need careful reading. Reread more carefully to plug the gaps in your knowledge.

Academic Skills Center, Dartmouth College 2001

2Six Common Reading Myths MYTH 3: IT IS SINFUL TO SKIP PASSAGES IN READINGToday proliferation of books and printed matter brought about by the information explosion creates a reading problem for everyone. You must, of course, make daily decisions as to what is worth spending your time on, what can be glanced at or put aside for future perusal, and what can be relegated to the wastebasket.

Six Common Reading Myths MYTH 4: MACHINES ARE NECESSARY TO IMPROVE MY READING SPEEDThe best and most effective way to increase your reading rate is to consciously force yourself to read faster. Machines are useful as motivators, but only because they show you that you can read faster without losing understanding.

Six Common Reading Myths MYTH 5: IF I SKIM OR READ TOO RAPIDLY MY COMPREHENSION WILL DROPresearch shows that there is little relationship between reading rate and comprehensionMYTH 6: THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT MY EYES THAT KEEPS ME FROM READING FASTUsually it is your brain, not your eyes, that slows you down in reading. Your eyes are capable of taking in more words than your brain is used to processing. If you sound out words as you read, you will probably read very slowly and have difficulty in skimming and scanning until you break this habit.

Pivotal Words

No words are as helpful while reading as the prepositions and conjunctions that guide your mind along the pathways of the author's ideas. A word like furthermore says, "Keep going!" Words such as in conclusion indicates a summary!" Master these words and phrases and you will almost immediately become a better reader, for they will whisper directions in your inner ear.

Reading & Writing Reading affects writing and writing affects reading. According to recommendations from the major English/Language Arts professional organizations, ones reading ability can be enhanced by intertwining writing and vice versa.Core Curriculum Example

Reading and Writing Write one paragraph that summarizes your thoughts on Chapter 1 of the Last Lecture. May take a 1-2 minute glace back at chapter 1. Who, What, When, & Where and sometime how

Skimming for the Main Ideas

Remember that authors of college textbooks want you to recognize the important concepts. They use:Major headings and subheadings to convey major points.Italicized words and phrases so that crucial new terms and definitions will stand out.Lists of points set off by numbers or paragraphs that begin with the phrases such as "The three most important factors . . . " etc.Redundancy or repetition. By stating and restating the facts and ideas, the author ensures that you will be exposed in different ways to the concepts he/she feels are the most crucial for you to understand. He/she hopes that on at least one of these exposures you will absorb the idea. Therefore, it is vital that you recognize when an important concept is being restated in slightly different words and when you have completely mastered the idea.

Teachable MomentDo you think some majors should pay higher tuition? Should some majors pay reduced tuition? Is there anything else that you can tell me about this?What else were you expecting me to ask?

Effective Reading Strategies Effective Reading Strategies Please take notes on vital information presented in the video. Reading Preparation Read during day light hoursRead for short periods of timeSet reading goals Read in a quiet placeReading Rate Your rate of reading should be determined by the following:Your purpose. What do you want to get from the material?The nature and difficulty of the material.The amount of previous experience you have had with this subject.

Improving Reading Rate Train your eyes to make fewer stop or fixate on one word. Be flexible in your reading rate.Your Overall adjustment is the basic rate at which the total material is read.Internal adjustment is concerned with the necessary variations in rate that take place as each part of the material is read.General reading which is difficult for you will require a slower rate; simpler material will permit a faster rate.

What is your Reading Rate Reading is a process of retrieving and comprending some from of stored information or ideas. These ideas are usually some sort of representation of language, such as symbols to be examined by sight, or by touch (for example Braille). Other types of reading may not be language based, such as music notation or pictograms. By analogy, in computer science, reading is acquired of data from some sort of computer storage. Improving Reading Comprehension SQ3R Technique includes: Survey QuestionReadReciteReviewSQ3R- Survey Before you read,Survey the chapter:the title, headings, and subheadingscaptions under pictures, charts, graphs or mapsreview questions or teacher-made study guidesintroductory and concluding paragraphssummary

http://www.studygs.net/texred2.htm17SQ3R-Question Question while you are surveying:Turn the title, headings, and/or subheadings into questionsRead questions at the end of the chapters or after each subheadingAsk yourself,"What did my instructor say about this chapter or subjectwhen it was assigned?"Ask yourself,"What do I already know about this subject?"Note:If it is helpful to you, write out these questions for consideration.

http://www.studygs.net/texred2.htm18SQ3R-ReadWhen you begin toRead:Look for answers to the questions you first raisedAnswer questions at the beginning or end of chapters or study guidesReread captions under pictures, graphs, etc.Note all the underlined, italicized, bold printed words or phrasesStudy graphic aidsReduce your speed for difficult passagesStop and reread parts which are not clearRead only a section at a time and recite after each section

http://www.studygs.net/texred2.htm19SQ3R-Recite Recite after you've read a section:Orally ask yourself questions about what you have just read, or summarize, in your own words, what you readTake notes from the text but write the information in your own wordsUnderline or highlight important points you've just readReciting:The more senses you use the more likely you are to remember what you read. Triple strength learning: Seeing, saying, hearingQuadruple strength learning: Seeing , saying , hearing, writing!!!

http://www.studygs.net/texred2.htm20SQ3R-Review Review: an ongoing processAfter you have read and recited the entire chapter,write questionsin the margins for those pointsyou have highlighted or underlined.If you took notes while reciting,write questions for the notes you have takenin the left hand margins of your notebook.

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