Academic Reading Dr. M. Amer Dr. S. Alomary 2013

What is reading?  Reading is the knowledge process of deriving meaning from written or printed text.  It is one of the most important life skills and is very necessary to succeed in university.  Reading is a means of communication and of sharing information and ideas. Like all language, it is a complex interaction between the text and the reader.  Remember that reading in English is like reading in your native language. It is not always necessary to read and understand each and every word in English.

The Purpose and importance of Reading Why are you reading a text? 1.To acquire / enhance knowledge 2.For mental development 3.To improve conversational skills 4.To develop vocabulary and language skills 5.To enjoy learning about other people’s experiences, stories, information, etc.

Reading Strategies 1. Previewing the text 2. Skimming 3. Scanning 4. Intensive reading 5. Extensive Reading How can I become an effective reader?

1. Previewing Previewing is a pre-reading skill by which the reader tries to gather as much information about the text as he/she can before reading it to have a general picture of the text. 1.Look at the title of the text. Try to find out what the writer(s) wants to tell you. 2.Look at the photos, illustrations, and other graphics in a text before you read. This will give you a visual idea of what the text is about. 3.Read boldface headings and words in boldfaced type. 4.Read the first sentence or paragraph of a text because the writer(s) generally states the main idea of the text in the first sentence or paragraph.

2. Skimming 1.Skimming is a quick reading to get the gist/main ideas of a passage. 2.Running the eyes over quickly through all the material but usually by skipping the details. 3.To know how the passage is organized, that is, the structure of the text

3. Scanning 1.It is the fastest reading, focusing on looking for specific information. 2.Scanning involves quick eye movements, in which the eyes wander until the reader finds the piece of information needed. 3.Scanning is used when a specific piece of information is required, such as a name, date, symbol, formula, or phrase, is required.

4. Intensive Reading/Careful Reading It is the slowest kind of reading. The speed of the reading is 50 – 350 words per minute. It is used for extracting information accurately Where you read every word, and work to learn from the text. You read carefully focusing on the details of the text: A.Identify key vocabulary B.Identify main ideas and details C.Making inferences D.Looking at the order of information and how it effects the message

5. Extensive Reading 1.It is simple reading. 2.it is used for pleasure like novels, stories etc. 3.It occurs when you read large amounts of interesting material, usually out of class, concentrating on meaning, "reading for gist" and skipping unknown words."

Comparison of efficient and slow readers Efficient reader 1.Reads ideas. 2.Reads multi-word phrases. 3.Visualizes ideas. 4.Sets a purpose. 5.Adjusts reading speed to need. 6.Keeps reading. 7.Has a large vocabulary in that subject area. 8.Practices speed reading daily. 9.Marks text for memory. 10.Sorts materials as critical, interesting, or trash. Slow reader 1.Reads words. 2.Reads one word at a time. 3.Says words out loud. 4.Reads to "the end of the book." 5.Reads everything slowly and deliberately. 6.Re-reads sentences to be sure of understanding. 7.Has a limited vocabulary in that area. 8.Rarely attempts speed reading. 9.Leaves pages clean with no marking. 10.Reads everything irregularly.

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