READING How to comprehend, retain and complete assignments

better and faster

Knowing how to read can come in handy….

IT SAYS “YOU GO

FIRST, DAVE.”

IN

OUT

HOLD

GET ITGET IT

EXPOSURE

I finished most (skimmed) or ALL pages of reading

Books are very $$$$* so get your worth

*Average price of a year’s worth of textbooks is $900

ATTENTION I was concentrating

TURN ON YOUR RADAR!

I allowed enough time to really get it

IMPORTANCE!!I decided correctly which material was worth getting

IMPORTANCE

…and might show up on tests

KEEP ITKEEP IT

IMPORTANCE!!

I decided correctly it was worth keeping…

IMPORTANCE

… and will show up on tests

TIMING

I didn’t underestimate the time needed

TIMING

I started early enough

so I could keep enough

ORGANIZATION

I was detailed enough (facts, events, statistics, names, dates, theories…)

ORGANIZATION

An general enough (overviews, summaries, trends…)

“enough”: The “Goldilocks” Problem:

NOT TOO MUCH…not too little…not too little…

ORGANIZATION

I made connections (among text lessons, lectures and class discussion, and lab exercises…)

 SHOW ITSHOW IT

through

TESTSPAPERSPROJECTS

PRESENTATIONSclass participation…

Am I getting it?Or not???!!

POSITIVE & NEGATIVE

COMPREHENSION SIGNS

The following are + (positive) and

x (negative) signs

that you’re “getting” it:

+ If you understand why the material was

assigned.syllabus

x If you can't figure out why the material was

assigned or explain why it's important.

+ If you can see where the author

is going.

x If you feel as if you are struggling

to follow the author and can't predict what will

come next.

+ If everything seems to fit and make sense – the

ideas flow logically.

x If some pieces do not seem to

belong-the material seems

disjointed.

+ If you can make connections among

ideas.

x If you can't detect

relationships - the organization is not

apparent.

+ If you can identify what's

important.

x Nothing(!) seems important or Everything(!)

seems important.

+ If you feel comfortable with and/or have some knowledge of the

topic.

x If the topicis unfamiliar but

the author assumes you

understand it.

+ If you can express the main ideas in your own

words

x If you have to reread and use the author's language to explain an idea.

+ If you can read at a regular,

comfortable pace.

x If you often have to slow down

or reread.

+ If you recognize most of the words or can figure them out from context.

x If many words are unfamiliar.

Finally, reading is an unusual and

challenging mental activity:

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabridge Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in what

oredr the ltteers in a wrod are!

The olny imprmoetnt tihng is that the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit

pclae.

This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed errvey

lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

When your When your textbook is a textbook is a

STRUGGLESTRUGGLE

1. Look for essential words1. Look for essential words If you’re stuck on a paragraph,

mentally cross out all the adjectives, prepositional phrases,

and adverbs, and read the sentence

without them. Concentrate on the significant words, usually verbs and nouns.

2. Read it aloud2. Read it aloud Even though this slows you down to the rate of speech, it’s alive and

active. Read a passage aloud several

times, each time using a different inflection, emphasizing a different

part of the sentence. Be loud and animated.

3. Read it again, later3. Read it again, later If you read an assignment and are

completely lost, don’t despair.

After reading, leave it alone. Sleep on it. Your mind will work on those concepts while you slack

off. When you return to the assignment, you should see it with

fresh eyes.

4. Use an alternate text4. Use an alternate text Read another book?!!!

Well, sometimes the same concept can be understood better if you find it

expressed another way. Maybe a GRE, SAT, AP or GMAT

prep book in the subject would condense or explain better.

5. Hold a mini-review5. Hold a mini-review Stop at the end of each paragraph,

section or page and recite - in your own words – what you have read.

Or write a short summary, possibly in the margin of the text.

6. Try to explain or teach It6. Try to explain or teach It We often understand more than

we think we do. To get in touch with this ability,

pretend it's clear as a bell and explain it to yourself, your study

group or some other victim. Write out your explanation as a

potential essay question.

7. Stand up!7. Stand up! Try standing when you read, especially

if you get stuck on a tough passage and decide to read it aloud.

Sometimes hearing the words makes them more understandable, and

pacing back and forth can help to focus concentration.

8. Use your instructor8. Use your instructor Most teachers welcome the

opportunity to work individually with students, which is why they have office hours…

Be very specific about your confusion.

Point out the paragraphs that you found

toughest to understand

9. Find a tutor9. Find a tutor CUA peer tutors are

students who were inyour position not long ago

and might even have had your professor and/or your text.

Tutors can give you a first-hand approach to a course and look at your

situation from a student perspective.