College Reading

Of all the skills necessary to

succeed in college, the two most important are: Reading the intake of information Writing the production of information In this presentation, you will learn how to make your reading skills work for you
Read it! Process it! Use it!

Take Charge of Your Reading

Before all else, if you dont like to read,
accept the importance of the skill and work on it. This is CRITICAL to your success! Commit to reading goals Plan time and space to concentrate Capture knowledge and connect ideas Know how to read primary and secondary sources. Preview and Review

Commit to Reading Goals

Stay positive, reading can be enjoyable. Make the author your companion. Pace yourself according to difficulty level. Take breaks (10 min break every 50 minutes). Read other sources if the assigned reading is confusing. Keep building your vocabulary (keep a dictionary handy). When studying for a test, skim readings for key points and terms. Make understanding the material of prime importance.

Plan Time and Space to Concentrate

College reading takes a great
deal of concentration. Find an environment in which you can concentrate best. If you must read in a noisy environment, consider wearing headphones with familiar instrumental music just loud enough to block distractions. Schedule time to read in a place where you wont be interrupted (or distracted).

Capture and Connect

Capture the supporting details; connect
them to the main idea. Capture what you dont know and connect it to what you do know. Elements of Your Reading Plan
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Preview Skimming Active Reading Analytic Reading Review

Know How to Read Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary Source material written in some original form; more difficult reading level.
Autobiographies Speeches Research Reports Government Documents Scholarly Articles

Secondary Source summarizes or interprets primary sources

Magazine Articles Textbooks

Developing Your Vocabulary

Consider the context around new
and challenging words. Jot down unfamiliar terms and find the meaning using a dictionary. Analyze terms to discover the most meaningful part of the word (especially true in Biology). Take the opportunity to use new terms in your writing and speaking.
Learn to read outside the box!

A Readers Glossary
Cause-effect Compare-contrast Draw a conclusion Context clue Implied
How one thing causes another to happen How things are similar and how they are different To make up your mind about an idea Getting the meaning of a word from the words around it Suggested without being directly stated

Inference Main idea Objectivity Prior knowledge Supporting details

To guess or speculate to draw a conclusion

The primary subject of a passage or paragraph

Not influenced by personal feelings or prejudice

What you already know

Specific items that elaborate on the main idea

This is a lot of work! Who needs it?

Preview
Scan the material to see what lies

ahead. Consider the context for the assignment. Consider the length of the reading assignment and estimate how long it will take. Consider the structure and features of the reading to help you digest the material. Consider the difficulty and plan your time accordingly.

Reviewing
Review to remember the main points
of the material. Test yourself on your comprehension. Some ways to review:
notes study questions flash cards visual maps outlines

Make reviewing every week a study

goal.

Skimming
Skimming covers the content
at a general level. It involves reading at about twice your normal rate. Focuses on introductory statements, topic sentences and boldface terms. Provides the chance for you to see what kind of information the assignment contains

Enables you to gather the surface ideas if

you dont have enough time to read deeply.

Active Reading
Read us the story about the wolf

Right! Get involved in reading!

Use it to avoid empty readingreading

then realizing that no information has come across. Focus on identifying the main ideas and on understanding how supporting points reinforce those ideas. In other words, get really interested & involved!

Analytic Reading
Reading at a more intense level. Involves breaking ideas open and digging
underneath their surface. Enables you to try to spot flaws in the writers logic. Promotes a comparison of the work to other works. Should involve questioning the author and yourself. In other words, active skepticism with a purpose

Highlighting Text
Highlight:
Topic sentences, Key words, Conclusions

But watch out!

Highlighting too much can cause you to reread everything because you dont know whats important. Highlighting doesnt show you why you highlighted something You need to have the entire text with you to review.

Important Points About College Reading

Instructors do NOT always cover the
reading material in lecture. You are expected to read the material and understand it on your own. Successful students complete assigned readings before class to help them understand the lecture. Connections and overlaps between lecture and reading reinforce learning. Also, reading ahead prevents you from being embarrassed when you are called on to discuss what youve read!
Take that! Unworthy adversary of reading!

A Summary of Strategies to Improve Reading

Practice a positive
attitude. Make the author your companion. Pace yourself according to difficulty level. Take breaks to restore concentration.

Read other sources if

the reading is confusing. Build your vocabulary. Work on reading faster.