READING SKILLS

By

Uta A. Maharaj

OVERVIEW

BEFORE YOU READ

READING PROCESS

MEMORY

ACTIVE READING

SQ4R

AFTER YOU READ

INCREASE READING SPEED

TIPS

BEFORE YOU READ

Set the stage a quiet place with few distractions

Determine your purpose Look over your syllabus for main idea

Find out from lecturer if readings will complement or add to the information covered in class

Prepare your brain Get 6-7 hours of a sleep

Read over previous class notes

Eat balanced meals and drink water

MEMORY

You have 2 types of memory

Short term memory (STM) gives you the

ability to remember information for short

periods of time, usually less than 24 hours

Long term memory (LTM) allows you to

remember information forever.

ACTIVE READING

Questioning what you are reading

write a list of questions you hope to have

answered

answer as you read

pay attention to content

write a list of questions emerging from the

reading

ACTIVE READING

Highlight key points

highlighted passages should resemble an

outline or summary

NOT for assignments that require you to

interpret, question, or critique

use two different colors to highlight main

ideas and supporting points

ACTVE READING

Construct an Outline

focuses on the same information as

highlighting

better for transferring information to long-

term memory

add personal reactions, questions, or

additional notes in the margins of the outline

ACTIVE READING

Draw charts or diagrams to organize your

reading or to make connections between

ideas

Creating flashcards for unfamiliar terms

or concepts that you will need to

memorize

SQ4R

SURVEY

Anticipate what the author is going to say

Reading an entire book? Read Preface,

Introduction & Table of Contents

Before each chapter, survey the titles and

subtitles, read the summary at the end of the

chapter & read the study questions

SQ4R

QUESTION

helps to focus your mind on reading

turn title or subtitle of each section into a

question i.e. “Events leading up to Bay of

Pigs,” ask yourself, “What were the events

that led up to Bay of Pigs?

write the question in your notes

SQ4R

QUESTION- Part-Whole-Connection Questions what are the reasons for...?

what are the types of...?

what are the functions of...?

what is the process of...?

what are the causes/ results of...?

what is the relationship between... and...?

how does... apply to...?

what is (are) the problems or conflicts or issues associated with ...?

what are possible solutions/ resolutions to these problems or conflicts or issues...?

what is the main argument or thesis of...?

what evidence or proof or support is offered...?

SQ4R

QUESTION- Critical Questions … good or bad...?

... correct or incorrect...?

... effective or ineffective...?

... relevant or irrelevant...?

... clear or unclear...?

... logical or illogical...?

... applicable or not applicable...?

... proven or not proven...?

... ethical or unethical...?

what are the pros or cons of...?

what is my opinion...?

what is my support for my opinion

SQ4R

READ

engage the text!

look for the answers to your questions

write the answers under the questions in

your notes

don’t get so caught up in answering your

questions that you miss other important

information

SQ4R

RECALL

after each section, close your book and,

without looking at your notes, summarize

the highlights of what you just read

recalling what you just learned will allow

your brain to move the new information

from short-term to long-term memory

SQ4R

REVIEW

open your book and look over your notes

to see if you left anything out of your

“summary”

weekly review sessions are a good way

to retain what you have learned from

your reading

SQ4R

RITING ( Writing)

AFTER YOU READ

Strategize

Recite - aloud or in writing

Review- think about how the ideas are

related

Organize- date and number each page of

reading notes

Discuss your reading with a classmate

Increase Reading Speed

“To increase your reading speed, even if you already read quite quickly, make your eyes move forward, allowing them to stop only four, three or two times, as you learn to move them faster along each line. You will soon find that you are reading two or three words at a time. Do not allow your eyes, as they move forward, to glance back at words gone by. Practice rapid reading regularly – at first with light reading matter. . . . When necessary, pause for thought, consider what you have read in relation to your previous knowledge, and make notes so that your reading is active”

TIPS

Read for ONE hour at a time, NOT more

Relax, have time to be with your friends,

go shopping, have a walk, cook for your

self, go for sports.

Thank You!

Thank you for your time and attention

If you require additional information,

please contact the Academic Advising

and Disabilities Learning Unit.