How to Improve Your Reading for Understanding
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Top Contributors - Ewa Jaraczewska, Jess Bell and Kim Jackson
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Reading is a two-way conversation between the author and the reader, between someone who knows more about a subject, with someone who is trying to learn about it. Reading is considered "the primary source for obtaining knowledge and information", and a "gateway to success in education."[1] Regular reading becomes a habit only when the act of reading is persistent, constant and done critically. [1]As reading and learning are linked, reading strategies can help in achieving success in learning. Positive reading attitudes lead to positive reading experiences and good academic performance. [2]
To be actively involved in reading, an individual must be critically engaged with the text, understand the intention for reading, stay focused and mentally committed as the reading is a process that requires motivation, interest, purpose and strategies. [3] Active reading is defined as "reading with questions in mind and search for answers." [4] It is a skill and a process that needs to be developed and it requires effort.[5] Because active reading is cognitively demanding, an individual need to do it when they are at their best mentally.
This article will offer a summary of learning on how to read more effectively.
Levels of Reading[edit | edit source]
The following is Mortimer Adler's classification of reading. [6]
Elementary Reading[edit | edit source]
- Level of reading taught in elementary schools
- Converting alphabetical notation and symbols into sounds that are combined to form words and sentences
Inspectional Reading[edit | edit source]
Inspectional reading is considered a deeper reading experience. It is divided into systematic skimming and superficial reading.
Systematic skimming: a quick check to decide if the reading material deserves more time and attention. The following steps must help with this decision:
- Reading the cover and the preface
- Reading the table of contents
- Checking the index and glossary of terms to familiarise yourself with the language
- Finding core chapters and reading a few paragraphs from them
- Reading last pages to get a summary of the author's arguments
- Listening to an interview with the author, if available, to learn what the book is about
When the decision was made that the material is worth reading, the superficial reading is the next step in the process of reading. The superficial reading is characterised by the following:
Analytical Reading[edit | edit source]
Syntopical Reading[edit | edit source]
How to Read More[edit | edit source]
Reading Journal Articles[edit | edit source]
Taking Notes While Reading[edit | edit source]
On Paper vs On Screen Reading[edit | edit source]
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Alsaeedi ZS, Ngadiran NB, Kadir ZA, Hamood Altowayti WA, Al-Rahmi WM. Reading Habits and Attitudes among University Students: A Review. Journal of Techno Social 2021;13(1): 44-53
- ↑ Samsuddin SF, Aspura YI. Understandings the Reading Habit and Reading Attitudes Among Students in Research University Library in Malaysia. Journal of Academic Library Management (AcLiM), 2021;1(1): 12–23.
- ↑ Lidadun BP, Chiuh N. To Use or Not to Use Monroe’s Sequence for Reading? A Preliminary Study. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2021: 11(7): 183– 207.
- ↑ Sun TT. Active versus passive reading: how to read scientific papers? Natl Sci Rev. 2020 Jun 19;7(9):1422-1427.
- ↑ Carey MA, Steiner KL, Petri WA Jr. Ten simple rules for reading a scientific paper. PLoS Comput Biol. 2020 Jul 30;16(7):e1008032.
- ↑ Adler, M. (1972). Adler, M. (1972). How to read a book: The classic guide to intelligent reading.
