1. Effective Reading Strategies
This workshop will
Explore what ‘reading’ means when using scholarly texts
Examine the difference between preliminary reading and reading for ‘depth’
Offer practical ideas for managing your reading effectively
Louise Livesey
Academic Skills Adviser

2. Why and what your read at University
Today’s Plan
Why and what your read at University
Preliminary reading versus reading for ‘depth’, and their corresponding reading strategies.
Strategies for managing your reading effectively
All in one click

3. Why you read at University
1.Why and what your read at University
Why you read at University
Putting in reading time
Must read for success
Reading for a purpose

4. 1.Why and what your read at University
What you read at University
Books
Textbooks
Monographs
Periodical
Professional digests
Research journals
News sources
Popular media (e.g. newspapers)
Visual texts
Webpages
Non-official documents
Policies
Guidelines
Design specifications
Committee papers
Conference proceedings
Reports
Official documents
Acts of parliament
Patents
Statutes
All appear on click
Books could be novels, text/reference books, monographs (treatise on one specific subject)
A periodical is a publication that comes out on a regular (periodic) basis: every day, every week, every month, every two months, etc. Journals and magazines are types of periodicals. A journal is a more scholarly or academic periodical that often covers specific subject areas. A magazine is a periodical that covers general subject areas and popular culture topics and are directed at a mainstream audience (e.g. Rolling Stone, Time, Cosmopolitan, etc.) and usually falls within popular media.
Official and non-official documents both have reports so be careful about their provenance (credibility)
Visual text such as pictures, film, etc
Webpages (again be careful about credibility)
It’s important to know what the audience is of the source you are reading. For instance, sources that are generated for popular purposes may have some limited place in certain assignments but doing a degree is supposed to show employers that you can apply specialised, critical thinking that is evidence-based using sources appropriate to your area of scholarship or your future profession.

5. Getting an Overview: books
2.Preliminary reading, and strategies
Getting an Overview: books
Contents page
Index
Introduction
Chapter headings
First and last chapter
Summaries
SKIM

6. Getting an Overview: journal article
2.Preliminary reading, and strategies
Getting an Overview: journal article
Abstract
Introduction
Conclusion
SKIM
Getting an Overview: websites
No two websites the same
Home page
Search engine
SKIM

7. 2.Preliminary reading, and strategies
More careful reading
Active reading
Taking notes
Highlighting
Pens
Post-it notes
Annotation tools
SCAN

8. 2. Reading for ‘depth’, and strategies
Looking for detail
From start to finish
See between the lines:
What is writer’s overall point?
Why is ‘x’ relevant?
What does ‘x’ add to the argument?
What lessons can be learnt?

9. 3.Strategies for managing your reading effectively
Active reading
Concentrate
Retain
Note-taking
Chosen sections to read
Part of your ‘job’ as a student

10. 3.Strategies for managing your reading effectively
Planning your reading
Allocate time
Start and finish times
Pizza Principle
Little and often
Breaks
Get your sources early
Open the module handbook for this slide

11. 3.Strategies for managing your reading effectively
Tips
Get into a routine
Find the right environment
Choose the right time
Quality over quantity every time

12. References
Burns, P. (2010) Dogs Are Not Kids. [online] Available at: [Accessed ] Buzan, T. (2006) The Buzan Study Skills Handbook. Harlow: BBC Active Greetham, B. (2013) How to Write Better Essays. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Place, E., Kendall, M., Hiom, D., Booth, H., Ayres, P., Manuel, A., Smith, P. (2009) Internet Detective: Wise up to the Web. 3rd ed. Intute Virtual Training Suite. [online]. Available from: [Accessed ] Student Learning Advisory Service. Effective Reading. Canterbury: University of Kent. [online] Available at: [Accessed ] Clip art: Question

13. Academic Skills Advice Service
Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23
What do we do? Support undergraduate students with their study skills by running clinics and workshops, having bookable appointment slots, and enabling students to drop-in for Instant Advice.
Who are we? Michael and Helen specialise in Maths Support; Lucy and Russell advise students on study skills; and I (Louise) deliver the workshops
When can you come for help? Everyday both face to face and on-line
How do I get in touch? or website

14. Any questions?
Produced by Louise Livesey May 2014