Reading Skills
Reading effectively is one of the most important skills for students and will help you perform better. Follow our techniques and tips to help you get the most out reading books, articles, reports etc.
Reading Skills
- A good reader does as many of the following as possible:
- Thinks about what the author is saying
- Concentrates on what is being read
- Remembers as much as possible
- Applies what is being read to personal experience
The following, if put into practice, will help you get more from what you read.
- Think about the subject you are going to read
- What do you know about the subject?
- What do you want to learn about the subject?
- After you read – What have you learned?
· Skim the section you are going to read
1. Do you see anything familiar?
2. Do you see anything new?
3. What is your overall impression?
· Read for comprehension – make notes of the important parts
1. Use a post it note or an index card and write down the main ideas. This will help you to review what you have read
2. If you are not sure if you understand something, stop and re-read it
3. Think of where else you may find info about the same topic, i.e. other books, the Internet, etc.
· Recall to yourself what you have just read.
1. Stop occasionally as you are reading and put into your own words what you have just read.
2. At the end of a section, recall what the main points were.
3. Discussing what you have just read with another student will also help clarify your thinking.
· Textbooks
- Read the Title and the Author of the text
- When was it published? (details usually on back of title page)
- Read the Table of Contents
- Thumb through the book, e.g. are there pictures, charts, maps etc.
- What impression do you have about the text – is it easy to read/understand?
6. After you have done all the above, go back and do it again in a more detailed way.
The following book may also be of interest:
The literacy toolkit: improving students' speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Author: Sara, Amanda Shelf number: 372.609
