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Paul D. Camp Community College
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Student Support Services Paul D. Camp Community College |
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Effective Reading Skills Reading comprehension is a basic skill that each college student must possess. Admittedly, not everyone understands what he or she needs. Even though students may have been reading since they were old enough to open a book, comprehension of college- level text can be intimidating. Believe it or not, reading is a complex, accrued skill—not acquired overnight Learning to read and comprehend takes practice. Reading requires the coordination of a number of interrelated sources (stuff you already know) of information. So if you are trying to improve your reading skills, start here:
Skimming, Scanning and Studying To get the most out of your reading and study experience, it is important to employ some methods that work toward organizing your reading assignments into smaller, manageable chunks - instead of getting lost in the big, giant textbook. There are different ways to cover text other than reading it line by line. Even if you are not aware of it, you may already perform these methods of collecting information when you read a textbook. The three types of reading you can use when studying, science, history, etc., are skimming, scanning, and studying. Skimming is covering the chapter to get some of the main ideas and a general overview of the material. It is what you do first when reading a chapter assignment. You don’t read for details at this point. Here is how you skim a chapter:· Read the first paragraph of the chapter line by line.· Next, read all the bold print headings starting at the beginning.· Read the first sentence of every paragraph.· Study any pictures, graphs, charts, and maps.· Finally, read the last paragraph of the chapter.As you skim, you could write down the main ideas and develop a chapter outline.Scanning is what you do to find an answer to a specific question. You may run your eyes quickly down the page in a zigzag or winding S pattern. If you are looking for a name, you note capital letters. For a date, you look for numbers. Vocabulary words may be boldfaced or italicized. When you scan for information, you read only what is needed.Studying is the third type of reading. This is when you actually read the whole chapter, line by line, for total comprehension. You are now actively reading to understand what is really going on in the chapter.Once you get the skimming, scanning and studying down pat, you are ready to move on to the SQ3R reading method which employs all three techniques.
First developed by researchers at Ohio State University, SQ3R is a useful technique for absorbing written information. It helps you to create a good mental framework of a subject, into which you can fit the right facts. It helps you to set study goals and prompts you to use the review techniques that will help you to remember. The acronym SQ3R stands for the five sequential techniques you should use to read a book: Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review. 1. Survey (S): Scan the entire assignment to get an overview of the material. Read the headings to see the major points. Read the introductory paragraphs and the summary at the end of the chapter. Don’t forget to look at the tables, pictures, etc. Remember, you are scanning the material and not actually reading every sentence.2. Question (Q): Make questions that can be answered during the reading of the material. This will give a purpose to your reading. Take a heading and turn it into a question. For example, if a heading in a chapter about Cell Division is in your biology text, make a question by turning the title around: “How does cell division occur?” or “How many steps are involved in cell division?”3. Read (R): Now you read the material trying to find answers to your questions. This is a careful reading, line by line. You may want to take notes or make flashcards.4. Recite (R): As you read, look away from your book and notes and try to answer your questions. This checks your learning and helps put that information in your memory.5. Review (R): To check your memory, scan portions of the material or your notes to verify your answers. Review the material and note the main points under each heading. This review step helps you retain the material.The SQ3R method is just one technique that can be used to retain information you collect while reading. Students learn in different ways. Therefore they should be aware of their learning styles. Knowing whether you are an Auditory (learn by hearing), Visual (learn by seeing) or Kinesthetic (hands-on) learner helps you to understand your best learning environment. The SQ3R technique of reading can help to enhance your reading skills no matter what your style is.TopGet the FACTS about how we learn.Other Reading Styles:· Closed reading is reading books like the bible or poetry for artistic appreciation. Each word is read to interpret meaning.· Rapid reading is the style of reading usually involved in fiction or pleasure reading. You don’t have to read every word to know what is happening in the text.· Speed reading is not really helpful for retaining information but is employed for superficial reading.TopGet exerciseThings to remember:· Find a quiet, well-lit, comfortable place to sit and read.· Get acquainted with your book.· Be prepared to make notes in the margin or highlight text with pens, pencils or markers. Try mind mapping.· Avoid distractions (for example, eating and listening to television).· Take short breaks to avoid boredom and frustration.TopAdditional ResourcesReading Do’s and Don’tsGet some help with reviewing topics at SchoolAdvice on how to read a difficult bookIf you find your mind wandering…Reading for assignmentsGuidelines for Getting the Most out of A Non-fiction bookHow to Read a Textbook EffectivelyTopReferencesAcademic Support Division, James Cook University http://www.jcu.edu.au/studying/services/studyskills/effreading/everyword.html Flinders University, Australia http://www.flinders.edu.au/ Know it all http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/knowitall/links/study.htm Rutgers Writing Program http://wp.rutgers.edu/courses/100/100r/reading_skills/general_strategies.html S-Cool http://www.s-cool.co.uk/default.asp The Academic Resource Center at Wheeling Jesuit University http://www4.wju.edu/arc/handouts/read_text.htm The SQ3R Method http://md039.k12.sd.us/Parents_Page/study.htm University of Michigan http://www.si.umich.edu/~pne/read.a.book.htm University of Wisconsin, Green Bay http://www.uwgb.edu/esms/sss/text.htm Virginia Tech http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/readbook.html
TopThis page was compiled by Bernadine Cousins (a Sophomore PDCCC Educ. Student). |
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