1. Reading strategies by Raed Albanon
University of Kufa- College of Education

2. This lecture will help you..
READING SKILLS
This lecture will help you..
Develop strategies that improve your reading

3. 5-minute self-test
What do you find difficult about reading at university?
Tick the boxes in the hand-out:

4. Introduction
You may be expected to read a wide range of texts that include lecture slides, books, journal articles, internet articles, newspapers, and research.
However, there are some strategies that help us pass qualification test with no need to really fully understand the text!

5. General tips
• Don’t vocalize as you read. This will slow you down, it won’t help concentration, and it will lead to bad reading approaches.
• Take breaks by closing your eyes for 10 seconds
• Breathe well. Don’t stress out.
• Unless necessary, don’t concentrate on words; focus on sentences.

6. Reading strategy 1: scanning
Scanning is reading quickly to search for specific information. You may not realize it, but you are already good at scanning. You scan, for example, when checking a TV guide or a phone book. Scanning may allow you to ‘read’ up to 1,500 words a minute.

7. Reading strategy 2: skimming
Skimming is reading quickly to gain a general idea. It may allow you to ‘read’ up to 1000 words a minute.
Don’t read everything.
Read the first and last sentences of paragraphs to know the main idea or for suggesting a title.
Notice any picture, charts, graphics, key words (numbers, dates, names, bolds or italics) .

8. Activity 1: Read the following text asap
Inrtetsneig fcat!
Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is that the frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by itslef but the wrod as a wlohe.

9. Activity 2: Let’s practice some skimming
In recent years, evidence has been collected which suggests that the proportion of British children and teenagers who are unhappy is higher than in many other developed countries around the world. For example, a recently published report set out to measure ‘ well-being’ among young people in nineteen European countries, found that the United Kingdom came bottom. The report was based on statistics and surveys in which young people answered questions on a wide range of subject. The United Kingdom is a relatively unequal country with a relatively high proportion of young people living in households. With less than half the national average income. This seems to have a negative effect on how they feel about themselves.

10. The heading that best matches the previous paragraph is:
a. Parents are to blame for the state of children today
b. A report with many conclusions and worries about the United Kingdom
c. Growing up unhappy generation
d. There are so many social problems young people face today

11. Reading strategy 3: Surface reading- info words
Sometimes skimming I not enough; read quickly is needed. More than 50% of the words in an average textbook are “information” words. The other words are like glue and paint: they provide connections and add interest, but are not essential for meaning. If you concentrate on information words, you can read faster and with better comprehension.

12. Activity 3: Read the following paragraphs and see if you can get a sense of the general meaning by only reading the information words that are featured.
1. Some advertisements ______ undesirable effects ______. One form _______ advertising suggests ______ buying ______ brings happiness. ______ more ______happier _____ feel. Parents in particular ______ under pressure ______ this form _______. Advertisements ______ expensive toys ______ imply _____ greater pleasure than lower priced ________.
2. _____example ______ children ___happier _____ video game than ______Scrabble. ______ not true. _______ opposite _______ more likely. Advertisements _______ make ______ people _______ more discontented.

13. Again
3. Another form _______ undesirable advertising _______ associates _______ products _______ success. _______ example __________ washing powder _______ linked _______ promotion ____ work, or __________ toothpaste.
4. _______ success _______ attracting ______ boyfriend ___ girlfriend. ______effect ______ these advertisements ______ encourage ______ false idea ________ success. Genuine success _______ earned ________ effort: _____ not ______ money.

14. Reading strategy 4: phrase reading
Have you watched a friend while reading? Or noticed how they move their heads like a table fan? They move along in a series of jerks. The pauses between these jerks are called fixation.

15. Poor readers take in only one or two words in each fixation.
| This is | how a | poor | reader’s| eyes move | along | lines| of print. |
A good reader, on the other hand, takes in several words in each fixation
| This is how | a better reader’s | eyes move along | lines of print.|

16. Activity 4: Read the two sentences below, focusing only on the highlighted words
Today it is more important that ever to be able to read fluently. For example, if you are a car-driver you have to be able to read a great many road signs.
What are the two sentences mainly about? reading, writing or travelling. Which word completes the first sentence? …to read … slowly, fast, or fluently.
Which example of writing is mentioned in the second sentence? application forms, road signs or advertisements.
Nouns and verbs are the key words you need to focus on

17. Activity 5
Quickly “surface read” the two paragraphs below, paying attention only to the nouns and verbs. Can you get the basic meaning of the paragraphs just from this quick read?

18. Solar energy is released by atomic reactions in the sun
Solar energy is released by atomic reactions in the sun. Solar cells can capture sunlight and convert it to electrical energy. One of the latest ideas is to send huge collecting panels into orbit around the earth. There, in perpetual sunlight, they could capture light energy, and convey it to antennae on the earth’s surface. It could then be converted into electricity. One of man’s oldest source of power, water, has the additional advantages of being reusable and clean. The energy of water as it rushes downhill in pipes, gives hydroelectric schemes the power to turn their turnings and produce electricity. Wave power is another method for using the energy of water to drive generators for producing electricity. Tidal energy makes use of the ebb and flow of tides in partially enclosed basins, such as the Bay of Fundy, in Canada, which has a tidal range of 16 meters!

19. Reading strategy 5: analytical reading
Analytical reading (or study reading) is needed when you want to make sure that you fully grasp and appreciate what you are reading. You may have to read statements more than once, stop to think about them, or jot down key words when using this style. As a result, your reading rate can easily drop to below words a minute. This strategy is used for studying for a test.

20. Activity 6: Read the following for an example of when slow, careful reading may be needed.
One of the first things that should be done in the evaluation of structural equation models is an assessment of the adequacy of input data and the statistical assumption underlying any estimation methods used in the analysis. Is there an easy way to read analytically? No. It can take great time and effort.

21. Reading strategy 6: marking the text
If the text you are reading is your own copy, you could also underline key words, highlight with a marker, or make notes in margins, or alternatively, if you don’t own the text, you could use little ‘post-it’ labels.
This can help you concentrate and identify key points. It is also makes it faster to go back and forth.

22. Reading strategy 7: note-taking
Note-taking can help you gain deeper understanding and reflection, a better ability to remember and good exam preparation materials for later.
This helps in studying for a test.

23. Reading strategy 8: managing vocabulary
Augment your vocabulary
Even native English speakers may at times feel overwhelmed by the amount of unfamiliar vocabulary they encounter. Of course, as a university student, you have a great opportunity and need to build your vocabulary (discipline specific and general). See Longman 3000 wordlist

24. When you have a long string of words, do this
Three or four nouns in a row (nouns modify nouns)
Furniture Factory Pay Cuts Row
Row over cuts in pays in a factory that makes furniture

25. Thanks for Your Attention