Introduction: Effective Reading at University
| Site: | UP Manila Virtual Learning Environment |
| Course: | Remote Learning 101 for CM Freshmen AY 2021- 2022 |
| Book: | Introduction: Effective Reading at University |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Sunday, 8 September 2024, 7:16 PM |
Description
Read this short discussion of why you need good reading skills to thrive in the university. Some general advice on how to read effectively is also provided.
1. Reading at University
The reading demands of university study are not easy. Unfortunately, however, it is all too common for students to pay little attention to their own approaches to reading—that is, how they read and how they can improve the effectiveness and speed of their reading.
This section on reading strategies provides advice on how to read for particular purposes. But before you proceed, you may find it worth reflecting on the nature of the reading that you conduct at university. This is discussed below.
(This section on reading strategies is adapted from the Reading Skills Helpsheet materials produced by the Teaching and Learning Unit, University of Melbourne.)
2. Effective Reading
To make the most of reading at university (especially in the context of remote learning), you may want to consider some general advice. The following tips may seem obvious, but are nevertheless important.
- Set a purpose for reading. Be clear about what you need (e.g., answers to questions, general understanding of a topic, identification of a writer’s position, etc.). Don’t just read aimlessly.
- Consider where you read. Always read in a well-lit and quiet place that is free of distractions, and don’t get into the habit of reading university materials in bed (unless you want to go to sleep).
- Don’t vocalize as you read. This will slow you down and it won’t help you to concentrate.
- Read at times when you can concentrate, and maintain concentration by taking regular short breaks, perhaps every 30 or 45 minutes.
- Set yourself reading tasks (for example, 10 pages, 1 chapter, 1 section of a chapter).
- Remember that reading often takes longer than you expect and you often need to go beyond set texts. Give yourself enough time!
3. General Types of Reading Strategies
Reading is an active meaning-making process. To optimize this process, readers use strategies. Reading strategies are deliberate actions that help readers make sense of the texts they read.
In this section, you will learn (more) about two general types of reading strategies: those that are used for "quick" reading and those that are used for, well, "slow" (or unhurried) reading. Whether you will read quickly or not, and which particular strategy you will use, will depend to a large extent on your purpose for reading. Quick reading strategies include scanning, skimming, and identifying information words. Slow reading strategies, on the other hand, include phrase reading, marking the text, and note-taking.