Describe techniques for effective reading

Reading textbooks and learning materials cover to cover may not be the best use of your limited time. Understanding how to read effectively will not only save you time but will also provide you with a valuable strategy that you can use throughout your life.

The first step is preparing to read. Try to read earlier in the day when you are not tired, in a quiet place with minimal interruptions. Set goals for what you are going to accomplish during the session. If you have a lot to read, you may want to break down your sessions into 30- to 40-minute intervals with a break in between. Breaks are important because:

• Your retention of information actually decreases if you study for long periods of time without any breaks.
• Humans retain more information from the beginning and end of a study session. By taking a break during your study session, you will also retain more information from before and after the break.
• Breaks can restore your energy level and allow you to be more focussed when you return to your studies.

One strategy for effective reading is through a process called “survey, skim, and scan”:

Survey to find out if the information is usable:

• Read the title and subtitle.
• Turn to the table of contents and read through the headings.
• Flip through the material and look at the graphics, pictures, and other non-text content.
• Look at the style of the text (how is it written, whether there are references), its source (by whom it is written), and the date of publication.

Skim to find out how the information is organized:

• Read titles and headings.
• Read the first sentence of some of the paragraphs.

Scan to find specific information:

• Using the survey and skim techniques, quickly scan the pertinent sections of documents to locate the information you need.
• Read the information you need more thoroughly.

In cases where you are required to have an in-depth knowledge of a topic, the following strategies can be effective:

• Focus on the topics that are more important. Read the section more than once.
• Look up words that you are unfamiliar with.
• Underline words and phrases that are important.
• Take notes in your own words to summarize the important information. Remember that notes can be taken in many different formats, including diagrams, tables, and mind maps.

There are a lot of different strategies you can use to keep track of the important information as you read. For example, you can use a mnemonic device, which is a small phrase or rhyme made up to help you remember information, or a made-up word that employs the first letter of each word you need to remember. For example, the mathematical order of operations can be remembered by:

Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally

(parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction)

or

BOMDAS

(brackets, operations, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction)

Some other effective strategies are:

• Use sticky note papers or flags to mark key information.
• Mark up key sections in your own book with a highlighter or underline sections and write in the margins.
• Sketch a mind map or concept map to visually represent information.
  

  

  

  

• Create a diagram of concepts and terminology.
  

  

• Use a chart or table if this helps you order the information for later recall.
• Take quick audio notes using a voice recorder or application on your smart phone.

Once you’ve gone through your readings, take the time to reflect on what you’ve read. Do you understand the concepts and the reasons for learning this information? Are there any issues that are unclear? If so, make notes so that you can ask for clarification later in class or skim over the material again to see if you can find the answers on your own.

Self-Test