34906152 reading for college[1]

8/8/2019 34906152 Reading for College[1]

1/19

Reading for CollegeReading for College

How to read Faster AND more effectively

Sandra Jamieson, Drew University, 2005


2/19

Reading for collegeReading for college

First, lets talk aboutreading speed

This is not about trying to read as FAST as you can . . .

. . . It is about learning to read aseffectively as you can

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y

,2 0 0 5


3/19

Test your reading speedTest your reading speedn Open your text book at random;nn Put a little mark by one line;Put a little mark by one line;

n When I tell you to start reading, read fromWhen I tell you to start reading, read fromthat mark and keep going until I say stop;that mark and keep going until I say stop;

n Don'tDon't try to speed read. Just read normallytry to speed read. Just read normallyso we can find your present reading level;so we can find your present reading level;

n When I say stop, stop right away and markWhen I say stop, stop right away and markthe end of the line where you stopped.the end of the line where you stopped.

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y

,2 0 0 5


4/19

Test your reading speedTest your reading speedOkay, now for some math:

n Count the number of words in ten lines and write thatCount the number of words in ten lines and write thatdown;down;

n now divide that number by 10. That is the averagenow divide that number by 10. That is the averagenumber of words per line. Write it down;number of words per line. Write it down;

n now count the number of lines you read andnow count the number of lines you read andwrite it on a piece of paper. Write it down;write it on a piece of paper. Write it down;

n multiply that number by the number of words per line,multiply that number by the number of words per line,and you have roughly how many words you read.and you have roughly how many words you read.Write down the number you getWrite down the number you get

n You read for ten minutes. Divide the total numbers of You read for ten minutes. Divide the total numbers of words you read by 10 and you have your words-words you read by 10 and you have your words-per-minute.per-minute.

n Write it down.Write it down.

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y

,2 0 0 5


5/19

Assessing your findingsAssessing your findings

n 150 wpm Insufficient

n 250 wpm Average general reader (too slow for college)

n 400 wpm Good general reader (the minimum for effective

college-reading)

n

600 wpm Strong college reader n 1000 wpm Excellent

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y

,2 0 0 5


6/19

Main causes of slower readingMain causes of slower readingn word-by-word reading;n slow perceptual reaction time, i.e., slowness

of recognition;n vocalizationhabitual or for comprehension;n Inefficient eye movements;n Regression;n faulty habits of attention and concentration;n lack of practice in readingespecially large

amounts;n fear of losing comprehension;n

habitual slow reading;n poor evaluation of which aspects areimportant and which are unimportant;

n the effort to remember everything rather thanto remember selectively.

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y

,2 0 0 5


7/19

So now what?So now what?

l There are three main factors involved inimproving reading speed:

(1) the desire to improve,(2) the willingness to try new techniques, and(3) the motivation to practice.

n Most people can double their reading speedMost people can double their reading speedwhile still maintaining equal or even higher while still maintaining equal or even higher comprehension.comprehension.

n Warning: In order to learn to read rapidly and well you mustWarning: In order to learn to read rapidly and well you musthave acquired the necessary vocabulary.have acquired the necessary vocabulary.

n When you can understand college-levelWhen you can understand college-levelmaterials, you are ready to practice readingmaterials, you are ready to practice readingfaster.faster.

n The average college student reads about 350 words per The average college student reads about 350 words per minute. A "good" reading speed is around 500 to 700minute. A "good" reading speed is around 500 to 700words per minute, but some people can read a thousandwords per minute, but some people can read a thousandwords per minute.words per minute.What makes the difference? What makes the difference?

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y

,2 0 0 5


8/19


9/19

A Trip Down Memory LaneA Trip Down Memory Lanen Remember reading about Spot the dog?n

SEE SPOT

RUN SPOT

LICKS. . . No . . . LIKES

SPOT LIKESTHEBALL .

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y

,2 0 0 5


10/19

A Trip Down Memory LaneA Trip Down Memory Lanen Before that you sounded letters .

R - E - M - E - M - B - E - R

okay RE - MEM - BER

REMEMBER!!!

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y

,2 0 0 5


11/19

Tricks for successful readingTricks for successful readingn Reading one word at a time in college is like

sounding out letters or parts of words .

l It TAKES TOO LONGInstead . . .

n Read in blocks : Read several wordsat once (a phrase, half a line, or afull line in textbooks with columns);

n

We are going to practice thisn

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y

,2 0 0 5


12/19

Tricks for successful readingTricks for successful readingn Think about how much effort it takes for your eyes to

focus on EACH WORD AT A TIME!Lets play the focus game for a minute. Focus on something a long way away, now focus on something close up. Now look to your left and focus. Now to your right. Now close upagain.It took time for you to focus, right? That same process isoccurring every time you FOCUS on a word if you read word-by-word. See??

l It TAKES TOO LONGn Your eyes get TIRED

READ IN CLUMPS (clauses, phrases)n Let your eyes settle on several words at once (a

phrase, half a line, or a full line in textbooks withcolumns). SEE the words, but dont move your eyes or say them.

n

We are going to practice thisn

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y

,2 0 0 5


13/19

Tricks for successful readingTricks for successful readingn Take a sheet of paper and fold it in half n Place it under a line of textn If the text is in columns, put a dot on the

piece of paper in the middle of the line

n

n As you read,l move the piece of paper down the page so

it is always under the line you arereading.

n Look at the DOTn and SEE the words,n but do not SAY them

We are going to practice this

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y

,2 0 0 5


14/19

Using the eye-guideUsing the eye-guide Move the eye-guide down

the page as you read. One line at a time. Focus on the dot, and just

see the words

Article source :. . / /www sedl org reading

/ . .topics brainreading pdf


15/19

Here are theHere are the other other trickstricksn

n Vocabulary - Wait until you've finished reading tolook up unfamiliar words. (If you stop, you'llreduce your level of comprehension.)

n Comprehension - to improve comprehension,repeat the main points of the chapter after closing the book. See how many specificdetails you can recall. The more you interactwith your text, the more you'll recall.Recollection and comprehension require avigorous approach.

n Practice 1: Skimming & Scanning - find aninteresting newspaper column or magazinearticle. Rapidly read the article, sampling justthe first sentence or two of each paragraphand a few key words. Jot down all the factsyou can remember. Then reread the articleslowly, giving yourself a point for every itemyou can recall.

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y ,2 0

0 5


16/19

Now YOU need to practiceNow YOU need to practice

The Basic Program:n Two or three times a day , read something you enjoy for

15 to 20 minutes without stopping. Time yourself towithin 30 seconds.

n Record your reading rate and chart your progress.Recording and charting are essential if you wish tomake real progress.

n Push yourself gently as you read. If your mind wanders,get it back on track.

n Set reading-rate goals for yourself. Aim for a 10%increase in your reading rate over the previous record.

n

n Practice skimming & scanning by finding an interestingnewspaper column or magazine article and rapidlyreading the article, sampling just the first sentence or two of each paragraph and a few key words. Jot downall the facts you can remember. Then reread thearticle slowly, giving yourself a point for every item youcan recall.

n READ YOUR TEXBOOKS ACTIVELY!

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y ,2 0

0 5


17/19

REVIEW:REVIEW:TO ACTIVE READ YOU:TO ACTIVE READ YOU:n Ask general beginning questions;n Set a purpose by pre-viewing a

chapter, and deciding what youhope to learn;

n Guide yourself through the reading byskimming first, looking at its length,sub-headings ( the plot ), images,charts and graphs, etc.;

n Make notes, highlight, and summarizeAFTER the reading is done!

n AND BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE!!!

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y ,2 0

0 5


18/19


19/19

Okay, lets try thisOkay, lets try this

Put a mark next to the line whereyou stopped.

Did you read more than the firsttime?

Now PRACTICE

Good luck!!!

S an

d r a

J ami e

s on ,Dr ew

Uni v

er si t y ,2 0 0

34906152 reading for college[1]

Documents