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Effective reading strategies for study

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Presentation on theme: "Effective reading strategies for study"— Presentation transcript:

1 Effective reading strategies for study
By Cindy Wee Te Puna Ako Learning Centre

2 Objectives of this workshop
identify common problems experienced in the area of reading for study Objectives of this workshop identify the reading skills you already have and extend these discuss techniques to improve your reading efficiency

3 Some reactions to reading academic texts

4 I feel tense when I’m feeling it’s not written for me
I feel tense when I’m feeling it’s not written for me...It’s like this is something I shouldn’t be reading. It’s like something that somebody else reads and not me. You know, like somebody else would understand this completely from start to finish and yet I don’t. I start to feel like the writing excludes me, because it’s not written in a style I would read or write every day. Degree Student

5 “Just incredibly confusing…you’d just be reading and reading and nothing, nothing would be connecting. All I can liken it to is another foreign language…” Degree student

6 academic reading The huge amount of reading that is expected
The complex language Difficult/new vocabulary Sometimes assumes the reader has a background knowledge already Can be culturally specific

7 Reading is… A developmental process:
structure of what you’re reading (type of text) how you’re reading it (the technique) purpose of reading (looking for information, detail, biasness)

8 Think of reading as communication and  thinking.
Searching for the answers while you read will result in more active reading.

9 Have a questioning mind

10 Active reading Ask questions for example:
What’s the author main purpose? What point of view has the author taken? What kind of information is he using? What are the main ideas, concepts? How does the author come to the conclusion?

11 Reading techniques How do you read….? A newspaper
Unitec New Zealand Reading techniques How do you read….? A newspaper A piece of 'junk’ mail A set of instructions A novel Draw up a chart on the board we read different things in different ways. Knowing your purpose is really important. These are techniques you all have and it is about applying them and extending them in relation to your academic reading. Newspaper: scanning – looking for key bits of info – headlines. Speed = very fast Junk mail – skimming or scanning – depends on your purpose. Skimming to get an overview – getting the main ideas about the product. The gist of the info. Speed = fast Instructions. Read carefully, in detail/ slowly so you can complete the task. Reading from start to finish Novel: Reading in detail start to finish. Whole thing. Review techniques – go to next slide

12 We read different things in different ways.
Unitec New Zealand We read different things in different ways. Think about your purpose for reading. Scanning: Looking for key information by searching key words, phrases. Involves moving your eyes quickly down the page Review Scanning surveying, getting the big picture, looking for the key info, not reading the whole thing Skimming looking for main ideas, reading for the ‘gist’, skimming over the surface Reading in detail read slowly, carefully Another ‘technique’ is also Skipping. Deciding to read something else first and then coming back to it or sometimes skipping it altogether.

13 Skimming: Looking for the main ideas or reading to get the ‘gist’ Reading the title, subtitles, subheading and illustrations. Reading the first and last paragraphs using headings

14 Reading in detail: Close reading, carefully and slowly by reading actively Read text several times Read with questions

15 Skipping:. Too difficult. Not relevant. Reading
Skipping: Too difficult? Not relevant? Reading another text first then coming back to it

16 Why are you reading the material?
Unitec New Zealand Why are you reading the material? - to learn new information - to find information for an assignment - to support an argument - to get an overview of the topic - to find particular facts or figures - to answer particular questions - to follow instructions The answer to this question will help you decide which reading techniques you should use.

17 Main ideas or specific details
Unitec New Zealand Main ideas or specific details

18

19 Decide reading for main idea or specific details.
Ability to read the main ideas and specific details helps you to understand the text Decide reading for main idea or specific details. Activity to do on what is the text doing?

20 Steps when reading for study
Unitec New Zealand Steps when reading for study Identify your purpose Why are you reading a text? Preview the text Pay close attention to: the title, author, abstract, the introduction, the conclusion, headings, the first sentence of every paragraph Think about how you will read the article: Scanning, skimming, reading in detail

21 Steps when reading for study
Unitec New Zealand Steps when reading for study Approach your reading with questions What am I trying to find out? What do I need to know? Exactly which parts do I need to read? Think about what you are reading – ask questions: What is the main point? How does what I am reading relate to what I already know? Do these ideas make sense in terms of my own life experience? Do these ideas confirm or challenge my views? Do I agree with what I am reading? If not, why not?

22 Read effectively Underline, highlight
Unitec New Zealand Read effectively Underline, highlight Use three different colours to highlight: the main ideas, the important details and new words Make notes in the text Look up difficult words (dictionary, internet) Refer to lecture notes Summarise out loud or in writing Consult with others Skip things you don’t understand and return to them later

23 Understanding Signal words
signals emphasise a shift in thought, or a connection between one idea and another. It helps the reader to follow the train of thought or connect the main ideas, giving a pattern to the text.

24 Signal words to help understand texts
however despite in spite of although but whereas show contrast

25 show similar ideas In addition Similarly Likewise As well as
Furthermore Moreover Not only … but show similar ideas

26 To show supporting details
For instance To illustrate In other words This is followed by In that case The reason why As an example To show supporting details

27 Evaluating academic sources
Unitec New Zealand Evaluating academic sources When evaluating a reading consider the following: - currency - scope (the range and extent the subject is dealt with / audience) - authority - accuracy - bias

28 Happy reading!


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