A Study Skills Series Presented by Student Success Programs READING YOUR TEXTBOOK A Study Skills Series Presented by Student Success Programs

Reading Leads to Success Successful students learn how to read effectively and REMEMBER what they have read. Part of becoming a good reader is finding a strategy that works for YOU. Remember don’t give up, keep looking until you find a strategy that best suits YOU.

Reading Textbooks Is not like reading for pleasure Unless notes are taken, most information will be forgotten Make sure you are understanding the information, rather than just looking at it

Why are College Textbooks more Difficult to Read ? Many new technical terms More abstract concepts More idea dense More words per page Longer chapters Higher reading level Lower interest level Lack of background about the topics

General Strategies for Reading College Textbooks Buy your textbooks early Preview your textbooks Read the chapter before the lecture (or, if you find that listening to the lecture first helps, at least skim the chapter) Read ten pages at a time Monitor your comprehension

3- Phase Technique Before You Read: Preview, Outline, Question While You Read: Reflect, Underline, Answer After You Read: Recite, Review, Review Again

Before you Read: Preview PREVIEW – the entire assignment Look over: Summaries Introduction Objectives Headings and Subheadings Charts and Graphs Think of possible test questions Identify Main Points This will familiarize you with the chapter

Before you Read: Outline OUTLINE material to organize your thoughts Use the text headings in your outline Rewrite headings if you need to As you read, fill in your outline with key points Using an outline helps keep information organized

Before you Read: Question QUESTION- what you hope to learn Turn heading and subheadings into questions Ask who, what, when, where, why, and how questions Make list of questions based on the purpose for that reading

While you Read: Reflect REFLECT on what you already know about the subject Turn content into mental pictures Be conscious of what you are doing Reflecting helps your brain get prepared to accept information that follows

While you Read: Underline UNDERLINE- important concepts Highlighting can be substituted for underlining Avoid underlining too soon Underline after you have read each paragraph

While you Read: Answer ANSWER- the questions you came up with Fill in your outline Jot down new questions & answers Note when you don’t find answers

After you Read: Recite RECITE when you are done reading Read each question and answer it out loud Talking about what you read, helps you summarize

After you Read: Review & Review again Review within one day Helps move information from short-term to long-term memory Go over your notes Read the highlighted parts of your text

4 Different Reading Levels Previewing Skimming Active Reading Analytical Reading

Skimming Covers the content at a general level Involves reading at about twice your normal rate Gives a chance to see what the chapter/assignment contains

Active Reading Use to avoid empty reading Absorb yourself in what the author is trying to say Focus on identifying the main points and how the supporting points reinforce them

Analytic Reading Reading at a more intense level Involves breaking ideas open and digging beneath the surface Promotes a comparison of the work to other works Should involve questioning the author and yourself

Reviewing Makes the main points stand out so they are easier to remember Is an opportunity to test yourself on comprehension Consolidates learning

Elements of Your Reading Plan Preview Intensity of Effort Skim Active Reading Analytic Reading Review

Reading Strategies P2R SQ3R S-RUN-R preview, read actively, review survey, question, read, recite, review S-RUN-R survey, read, underline, note take, review

A Summary of Strategies to Improve Reading Practice a positive attitude Pace yourself according to difficulty level Take breaks to restore concentration Shift gears when you don’t make progress Build your vocabulary Work on reading faster Read other sources if reading is confusing

Reading Tough Material When you don’t understand, slow down and reread Break long assignments into segments: read 10 pages, do something else, and so on Translate difficult materials into your own words

Tips to Remember Read in a quiet environment Stay focused Take short breaks Turn the content into mental pictures (visualize it) Avoid reading in bed