chapter 7 reading college textbooks. copyright © houghton mifflin company. all rights reserved.7 -...

Chapter 7

Reading College Textbooks

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7 - 2

Benefits of Active Reading

As an active reader, you will:• Be less likely to slip into automatic pilot

• Be using powerful multisensory strategies

• Increase your reading comprehension

• Know how to select effective strategies for different kinds of materials

• Actively use the Twelve Principles of Memory


Essential Strategies for Textbook Reading

• Begin with a clear intention to understand what you read.

• Use an organized system for reading textbook chapters.

• Be inquisitive.

• Relate new information to existing schemas in your long-term memory.

• Manage your textbook reading time effectively.

• Use spaced practice or spaced studying.

• Include some form of feedback as you study.

• Encode information from ordinary words into new sensory codes.


Four Levels of Reading

Recreational

Overview

Thorough

Comparative


Surveying to Get an Overview

Surveying is the process of previewing or skimming through information to get an overview or a big picture of the content before you begin thorough reading.


Surveying to Get an Overview (Cont)

Surveying:• Activates existing working memory

• Connects to existing schemas in LTM

• Sets the stage to create new associations

• Enhances motivation and interest

• Breaks inertia or tendency to procrastinate

• Boosts confidence

• Provides information about length and difficulty of the reading material

• Helps you set realistic goals and manage your time


Surveying a Textbook


Surveying a Chapter


Formulating Questions

Formulating questions is an active reading strategy that provides you with a purpose for reading, elevates your curiosity, increases comprehension, and helps maintain a focus.

The questions and then the answers create memory cues or associations to recall information later.

• Write questions before you read.

• Write questions as you read.

• Write questions after you read.


The Steps of SQ4R


The Steps of SQ4R (Cont)


Reading Composition Textbooks

Textbooks contain declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge.

Study examples carefully.

Learn the terminology.

Learn the writing steps.

Plan to revise drafts several times.

Analyze your work, proofread, and apply writing elements presented in the textbook.


Reading Literature Textbooks

Literature include short stories, essays, plays, poetry, and novels

Literature involves imaginative, figurative language to convey emotional experiences.

Read through completely to get an overview and the emotional impact.

After uninterrupted reading, read thoroughly a second time.

Look for figurative language (symbols, images, word usage).

Examine ways events unfold, characters develop, and details weave together to develop the plot.

Create visual images and movies in your mind.

Critique the writing; support your opinion with specific details.


Reading History Textbooks

Textbooks involve sequence of events in a narrative form.

Create timelines to show the sequence of events.

Look for patterns and trends, cause and effect relationships, and major shifts in political, social, and cultural directions.

Create visual images and movies in your mind.

Memorize specific facts (names, dates, treaties, wars, and definitions).

Read other accounts of the same events for alternative perspectives.


Reading Math Textbooks

Math textbooks include factual information (declarative knowledge) and theorems, formulas, equations, and problem-solving steps (procedural knowledge).

Math textbooks are based on sequential skills and understanding.

Look for common patterns:

• concept defined

• concept presented as an equation

• concept expressed in symbols or algebraic notation

• applications.


Reading Math Textbooks (Cont)

Learn the language of symbols.

Memorize formulas, terminology, and steps.

Study examples of equations and problem-solving steps.

Rework problems several times to increase speed and accuracy.

Focus on individual parts of a problem:

• what is given

• what you need to find

• what steps you need to use to solve the problem.

Make charts, tables, diagrams, or pictures to help solve problems.


Reading Science Textbooks

Science textbooks include biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental studies, and physics.

Science textbooks often use inductive arguments.

Understanding involves hands-on, laboratory demonstrations, experiments, and observations.

Science textbooks use declarative and procedural knowledge.


Reading Science Textbooks (Cont)

Begin with overview reading; then use thorough reading.

Read and examine examples.

Memorize terminology and be able to define terms.

Create mental images for memory cues.

Explain information (recite).

Study diagrams and charts carefully.

Associate information to larger concepts and schemas.


Reading Social Science Textbooks

Social science textbooks include anthropology, business, counseling, criminal justice, economics, education, ethnic studies, finance, history, law, marketing, philosophy, political science, psychology, public administration, sociology, and women's studies.

Memorize terminology; be able to define and give examples.


Reading Social Science Textbooks (Cont)

Look for major concepts, patterns, trends, cause-effect relationships, details to support main points, and relationships among different groups.

Examine and interpret all visual materials.

Create visual materials.

Personalize the information.

Use headings and subheadings to outline the chapter.

chapter 7 reading college textbooks. copyright © houghton mifflin company. all rights reserved.7 -...

Documents