So You Want To Be An Efficient Reader?Getting the Most out of Your Reading

The strategies presented in this workshop are all about helping you to gain efficiency with your assigned readings.

By developing and employing these strategies, you’ll get the maximum benefit from your reading with the minimum effort.

Lecture meaning will be enhanced by greater comprehension of text material.

It’s all about saving you a TON of time, while helping you to do better in your courses!

Improved Efficiency

1. Knowing what you need to know.

2. Knowing how deeply to study the material.

3. Active reading.

4. How to approach different types of material.

Key Strategies for Efficient Reading

Ask yourself some questions.◦ How is this reading supposed to relate to the lecture?◦ Are you reading with this purpose? ◦ What should you know after the reading?

With those questions answered, you can examine the text to see whether it is going to provide you the information you need.

An easy and quick way to do this?◦ Take a look at the introduction and the chapter headings. The

introduction should let you know at whom the book is targeted, and what it seeks to achieve. Chapter headings will give you an overall view of the structure of the subject.

◦ Section summaries and review questions also provide clues to content. ◦ Don’t forget to pay attention to graphs, illustrations, charts, etc.

Knowing what you need to know

Where you only need the shallowest knowledge of the subject, you can skim material. ◦ For instance, reading only chapter headings, introductions, and

summaries.

If you need a moderate level of information on a subject, then you can scan the text. ◦ Read the chapter introductions and summaries slowly, and in

detail. ◦ You may then speed read the contents of the chapters, picking

out and understanding key words and concepts. At this level, it is worth paying attention to diagrams, graphs and illustrations.

When you need EXTENSIVE knowledge and understanding of a subject or concept, it’s worth studying the text more closely.◦ Take your time and read for understanding.◦ Ask yourself if the reading is answering what you “need to

know”.

Knowing how deeply to study the material

When you are reading a document for detail and understanding, you should be actively reading.

Simple active reading:◦ Highlight important definitions, dates, names, key

words, etc. ◦ Underline explanations of concepts.◦ Write notes in the margins so you can easily

locate information for later review.◦ Some students use tabs to mark important

sections.

Active reading also helps to keep your mind focused on the material.◦ Have your lecture notes available while actively

reading. ◦ Compare and contrast!◦ Recognize consistencies between the two.◦ Is anything missing? Does the text discuss

something not in your notes?

Active Reading

By understanding the layout and of the material you are reading, you can extract useful information much more efficiently.◦ Consider the depth and validity of each type of source. Would you

trust Wikipedia as much as your course text? Facebook as much as a conversation?

Pay attention to the different ways information is presented in: ◦ Magazines (pictures and less text)◦ Websites (can you trust the site?)◦ Podcasts (how legitimate is the source?)◦ Journals (text heavy)◦ Textbooks (a nice mix of text and illustration)

Do you have a preference? ◦ Is one format easier for you to follow? Why?◦ Learn to effectively use many different source types.◦ It is best to use a VARIETY of sources.

How to study different types of material…

◦ If you are still experiencing difficulties, ASK your professor for guidance.

◦ They may be able to help you understand the assigned readings by relating them to other course assignments.

◦ Try to determine those readings on which you should place particular emphasis.

◦ Is there something you are missing with the reading? Not sure how it relates to the test? Be prepared to show the professor an example of your active reading efforts.

And Lastly...

This PowerPoint presentation is the property of Northern Michigan University’s Academic & Career Advisement Center. It

may not be reproduced without written consent.

www.nmu.edu/acac