Chapter 1: Active Reading & Thinking Strategies Reading Across the Disciplines: College Reading and Beyond, 1/e Kathleen McWhorter PowerPoint by JoAnn Yaworski, 2001 © 2002 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

In this chapter you will learn how to: Read actively Preview Activate your background knowledge Check your comprehension Strengthen your comprehension © 2002 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

© 2002 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers Passive Readers... Read all assignments the same way. Read an assignment because it was assigned. Read everything at the same speed. Accept whatever is in print as true. Study lecture notes and textbook separately. Check the length of an assignment before reading. © 2002 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

© 2002 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers Active Readers... Develop strategies. Analyze the purpose of assignments. Adjust speed according to purpose. Question ideas. Compare textbooks with lectures. Skim and preview before reading. © 2002 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

© 2002 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers Previewing Read the title. Check the author and source. Read the introduction. Read boldfaced headings. Read the first sentence. Note graphic aids. Read summary or last paragraph. Read end-of-chapter material. © 2002 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Positive Comprehension Signals You have some knowledge of the topic. You can recognize most words. You can express the main idea. You read at a regular pace. You are able to make connections between the ideas. You know which points are important. © 2002 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Negative Comprehension Signals The topic is unfamiliar. The author assumes you understand. Many words are unfamiliar. The organization is not apparent. Nothing seems important. You are unable to detect relationships. You must reread the main ideas. © 2002 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Strengthening Your Comprehension Check distractions. Paraphrase each paragraph. Read difficult sentences aloud. Reread complicated sections. Read difficult sections carefully. Write guide questions next to headings. Outline the major points. Highlight key ideas. © 2002 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

When You Lack Background Knowledge... Use the glossary and index to consult other sections of your text. Obtain a more basic textbook to review the unknown concepts. Consult reference materials such as dictionaries, and encyclopedias. Ask your instructor to recommend additional sources. © 2002 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

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