Helpful Tips and Tricks for Reading in World History Surviving and Thriving History this Year!

Be an “Active” Reader! When I say do readings, what I really mean is active reading. Active Reading: Read the text and interact with it by taking notes and asking questions. Break it down to understanding! If you have a question while reading, write it down! Ask it when you get back to class! You probably are not going to be the only one with that question!

Learn How to Use Your Textbook to Your Advantage! Turn the section headings into questions. For example if the section heading is “Athens Builds a Limited Democracy” restate that as a question like “How did Athens Build a Limited Democracy?” or “Why did Athens Build a Limited Democracy?” This will help you be an active reader because you know what you are “actively” looking for. (the main points/ideas)

The Extras! Don’t skip the charts, graphs, or images on the page! Read them! They tend to add to important information, clarify information, compare/contrast information, state significance, or provide different point of views.

They are Your Notes! I have already done this! I don’t need them! Write things down in your own words that make sense to you!!! Not only are you avoiding plagiarism but if you are actively trying to think of a way to restate something it provides you multiple ways to understand it, remember it, and learn it! Also, if you are using textbook jargon in your notes it becomes hard for you to study it. They are your notes! Make them how they make sense to you!

They are Your Notes! I have already done this! I don’t need them! Don’t write things down word for word! Synthesize (combine like points) and Summarize! Studies show that if you are trying to think of a way to summarize a point then you are more likely to recall and add to that knowledge later!

They are Your Notes! I have already done this! I don’t need them! If you come across a bold, highlighted, or italicized word consider it important and come up with your own explanation for it. Why is it important? The editor of the book would not have taken the time to point it out to you if it did not have some significance. Figure out what it is and add it in to your notes in your own way!

Get Ahead! Don’t rely on the PowerPoints Doing “active reading” at home when assigned or not assigned will also help you take notes in class! If you already have read and took some notes on your own you won’t be scrambling to keep up with the PowerPoint! Guess where I get the info in the PowerPoint from anyways! (the textbook for the most part!)

Get Ahead! Don’t rely on the PowerPoints The point of doing things this way is so that you can come to class with questions and then add to your notes while talking and learning in class. NOT COMING TO CLASS AND WRITING DOWN EVERYTHING ON THE POWERPOINT! In truth, the PowerPoint is more for the teacher than the student. It keeps us teacher folk on track!

Information Overload! When reading don’t worry about the small stuff! Do worry about the big stuff! Read for the big ideas. Textbooks, like the world history book we are using for this class, are set up to educate and inform you about an idea or topic.

Information Overload! Find out what that main idea(s) is/are and then gear your active reading toward it! See point 2 to help you with this! Key details are important! Usually in a history book they will be the supporting evidence to a claim! The claim made is usually a main point/idea!

Your notes are Your guide! Read the book once but your notes multiple times! You should never have to read a chapter more than once (in theory). If you’ve done your reading well and taken notes as you read, you have a record of the thoughts being communicated in your own words that make sense to you! However, if you truly do feel lost or don’t feel like your notes are getting the full story go back and re-read, but try to get used to reading only one time!

You never know! You never know when I will allow you to use your reading notes on a homework reading quiz. Or I may ask you to turn in something that shows me you did the reading!