Speed Reading: Assess your Reading Speed and Controlling External Influences

Louise Livesey

Academic Skills Adviser

This workshop will: − Assess you reading speed so you know where you are

starting from− Explore the way we read and how this can be modified− Look at the role that concentration and environment play in

effective reading and how these can be improved.

1.How we read

2.Self-test your reading speed

3.‘Beneficial’ reading problems

4.Improving your concentration

5.Solving environmental issues

Today’s Plan

Fixation points: reading in ‘chunks’

1.How we read

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Words

Fixations: ¼- 1 ½ secondsEye

movements

Activity 1

1. Read the text for 1 minute, note last word

2. Count the number of words on any three lines and add them together. (Take short lines into account).

3. Divide that number by three and you will have an average number of words per line. Make a note of this number.

4. Count the number of lines you read and make a note of this number.

5. Multiply the number of lines read by your average words per line and make a note of the number.

2.Self-test your reading speed

• ‘Mouthing’: reinforcement of reading and ‘inner voice’ as a memory aid

• Finger pointing: more efficient reading

• Re-reading: get out of ‘comfort zone’ and speed up

3.‘Beneficial’ reading problems

• Conceptual difficulties: skim and scan, and ask for explanations

• Inappropriate reading speed: speed up• Distractions: minimise, refocus, remind• Poor organisation: targets, chunks and breaks• Lack of interest: Sort out all issues and get

annoyed• Lack of motivation: set goals and actions• Difficulties with vocabulary: see next slides

4.Improving your concentration

Vocabulary: prefixes

• Letters/words at beginning of a word to alter its meaning. Increase your vocabulary by 1000s of words.

and Activity 2

4.Improving your concentration

Vocabulary: prefixes

4.Improving your concentration

Ad- To, toward Advocate To speak for something

Un- Not together Unconnected Not linked

Com- With Company With others

Non- Not Non-entity Thing of no importance

Ex- Out, beyond Extend Stretch out

Re- Back, again Return Go back

Vocabulary: prefixes Activity 2

4.Improving your concentration

Pro- Forward, for Prognosis Forecast of the course of a disease

In- Not Indecisive Not able to make a decision

Dis- Apart, not Disenchanted Not under a spell

Over- Above Overachiever Succeed above what is expected

Sub- Under Submarine Under the sea

Mis- Wrong Misunderstand Incorrectly understood

Trans- Across, beyond Transcontinental Across continents

Vocabulary: suffixes

• Letters/words at end of a word to alter its meaning. Change one part of speech to another.

and Activity 3

4.Improving your concentration

Vocabulary: suffixes

4.Improving your concentration

-er Belonging to Farmer, New Yorker

One who works on a farmOne who comes from New York

-ism Quality or doctrine Realism,Socialism

Tendency to view things as they areSystem of community control of production and distribution

-ive Nature of Creative,Receptive

Having the quality of creatingHaving the quality of receiving

-ise-ize

Make, practise, act like Modernize Advertise

Give a new modern character toTo give information

-logy Study of Biology Study of life

Vocabulary: suffixes Activity 3

4.Improving your concentration

-ly Having the quality of Softly, Quickly

To touch with gentlenessTo move with speed

-or A state or action, a person who, or thing which

Victor,Generator

One who winsOne who generates something

-ouse-ose

Full of Murderous,AnxiousMorose

Dealing only with murderFull of anxietyFull of gloom

-some Like Gladsome Appearing happy

-y Condition Difficulty Something that is difficult

• Light: natural light or over the shoulder• Study materials: have them to hand• Chair and desk: not too soft/hard, knees

higher than hips, learn to type• Posture: feet flat and back upright, book

tilted up.• When to study: whenever you work best• Interruptions: reduce them as much as

possible

5.Solving environmental issues

References

Buzan™, T. (2006a) The Buzan™ Study Skills Book. Harlow: Educational Publishers LLP.

Buzan™, T. (2006b) The Speed Reading Book. Harlow: Educational Publishers LLP.

Dictionary.com (2014) [online] Available at: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ [Accessed 23.7.2014]

Academic Skills Advice Service

• Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23• What do we do? Support undergraduate students with

their academic skills by running clinics and workshops, having bookable appointment slots, and enabling students to drop-in for Instant Action.

• Who are we? Michael and Helen specialise in Maths Support; Lucy and Russell advise students on study skills; and I (Louise) deliver the workshops

• When can you come for help? Everyday both face to face and on-line

• How do I get in touch? Email: academic-skills@brad.ac.uk or website www.brad.ac.uk/academic-skills

Any questions?