1. Chapter 1: Strategies for Active Reading
Academic Reading,
Fifth Edition
by Kathleen T. McWhorter

2. Learning Objectives:
To understand how reading contributes to college success
To assess your learning style
To build your concentration skills
To develop multilevel thinking skills
To learn to preview and predict before reading
To develop questions to guide your reading
To check your comprehension

3. Reading & Academic Success
Reading is thinking!
View Table 1-1 in your book to determine the difference between an active reader and a passive reader.

4. Take the Learning Style Questionnaire and see if you are:
Auditory
Applied
Spatial
Social
Creative
Visual
Conceptual
Verbal
Independent
Pragmatic

5. Now interpret your scores from the discussion in the book.
Auditory
Applied
Spatial
Social
Creative
Visual
Conceptual
Verbal
Independent
Pragmatic

6. Building Your Concentration
Eliminate Distractions
Learn to Focus Your Attention
Assess Your Concentration

7. Eliminating Distractions
Choose a place conducive to reading.
Notice your physical state (tired? hungry?).
Have necessary materials available.
Choose your peak periods of attention (evening? day?).
Keep a list of distractions and then avoid them.

8. Focusing Your Attention
Set goals.
Reread psychology lecture notes - 15 minutes
Review chapter 9 in accounting - 30 minutes
Read short story for English - 30 minutes
Reward yourself (snack, TV, phone call).
Begin by reviewing previously read material.
Write and underline as you read.
Approach assignments critically as an active reader.

9. Assessing Your Concentration
Make a list of common distractions and problems that interfere with your concentration. Next to each item, note how you can overcome it. Discuss any items for which you have no remedy.

10. Developing Levels of Thinking
Knowledge
Comprehension
Application
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation

11. Previewing and Predicting
Previewing familiarizes you with the content and organization before you read.
Helps you think about the subject
Gives a mental outline of the chapter content
Predicting questions occurs as you preview.

12. How to Preview Textbook Assignments
Read the chapter title.
Read the introduction or the first paragraph.
Read each boldface heading.
Read the first sentence under each major heading.

13. How to Preview Textbook Assignments
Note any typographical aids.
Note any graphic aids.
Read the last paragraph or summary.
Quickly read any end-of-article or end-of-chapter material.

14. Previewing Nontextbook Material
Pay close attention to the title.
Identify the author and source of material.
Read the first paragraph carefully.
Read the first sentence of each paragraph if there are no headings.
Pay close attention to the last paragraph.

15. Activating Background Knowledge
Ask questions, and try to answer them.
Draw on your own experience.
Brainstorm - Write down everything that comes to mind about the topic.
THEN MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU WILL HAVE TO KNOW!

16. Developing Guide Questions
Guide questions direct your attention to what is important in each chapter section you are reading.
The easiest way to make up guide questions is to turn the chapter title and headings into questions that you try to answer.

17. Checking Your Comprehension
Recognize comprehension signals. (See Table 1-5 for positive and negative signals.)
Checking Techniques
Use your guide questions.
Ask yourself thought-provoking questions.
Use internal dialogue. Mentally talk to yourself.

18. Summary Questions How do you improve your concentration?
What is your learning style and how can you capitalize on it?
What are the six stages of thinking?
Why is previewing important?
How do you preview material?
How do you make guide questions?
What are some comprehension checking techniques?

19. “Factors Affecting Interpersonal Attraction” by Josh R. Gerow
Now read the psychology article and complete the exercises following the article.
“Factors Affecting
Interpersonal Attraction”
by Josh R. Gerow