Reading Skills

Skimming

for getting the gist of something

Scanning

for a specific focus

When you're reading, you need to make sure you're actively involved

with the text.

Active reading

Four tips for active reading

Underlining and highlighting

Noting key words

Asking questions

Making summaries

Pick out what you think are the most important parts of what you are

reading.

Underlining and highlighting

Record the main headings as you read. Use one or two keywords for

each point.

Note key words

Before you start, prepare for your reading by noting down questions

you want the text to answer.

Questions

Put what you've read into your own words.

Summaries

Speed up your reading

Read the title to help prepare for the subject.

Read the introduction or summary to see what the author thinks are the

key points.

Notice the headings to see what the structure is.

Notice any maps, graphs or charts.

Notice the reading aids: italics, bold face, punctuation marks.

Learn to recognise sequence signals:

"Three advantages of..." or "A number of methods are available..."

leads you to expect several points to follow.

The first sentence of a paragraph will often indicate a sequence:

"One important cause of..."

followed by

"Another important factor..."

and so on, until

"The final cause of..."

General points are often illustrated by particular examples

General: Birds' beaks are appropriately shaped for feeding.

Particular: Sparrows and other seed-eating birds have short, stubby beaks; wrens and other insect eaters have thin pointed beaks; herons and other fish hunters have

long, sharp beaks for spearing their prey.

Identify your current reading style and the changes you need to make to improve.

Discuss the statements on the next slide with your classmates.

How true are they about you?

I concentrate on memorising a good deal of what I read.

I tend to read very little beyond what is actually required to pass the assignment.

I try to relate ideas I come across in other topics to what I read.

When I read, I examine the details carefully to see how they fit in with what's being said.

I like books which challenge me and provide explanations which go beyond the lectures and seminars.

I like books which give definite facts and information which can be easily understood.

source: http://www.studyskills.soton.ac.uk/studytips/reading_skills.htm

University of Southampton