More Effective Academic Reading – Two Quick Steps

There are two quick strategies you can add to your academic reading that will make a big difference in your comprehension and retention of the material:

#1 – BEFORE you start to read, PREVIEW the material

• Look through the chapter or article and look at any headings or bold print
• See how the information is organized – think about the big picture of the piece
• Look at any new words defined in the margins
• Read the Learning Objectives or the Chapter Outline
• Look at the pictures, charts, graphs, etc.   (These will distract you during the actual reading!)
• If it is a trade book, read the back cover, any note from the author, table of contents, whatever information is there to help you see (again!) the overall organization of the book and the big picture.

#2 – AFTER you are done, REVIEW what you have read

• Look through the chapter again and reread the headings
• Reread any notes you have taken
• See if you can answer the Learning Objectives
• Think about what you read and see what you can restate in your own words

These two quick strategies can make a big difference in your effectiveness as a reader.  Give them a try!