Summer of Reading #4 - Textbooks (paper)

One of the most important ways you will learn in college is through reading your textbooks.  Professors expect that you have read and understood the material before class.   Because of this expectation, academic reading is different than pleasure reading.   I like to divide academic reading into three stages: preparing your brain before you start to read, strategies to improve comprehension and retention while reading, and doing some things to help the information stay in your memory after you complete the assignment.

Before you start to read:

·       Preview the passage to see what it is about, how it is organized and how long it is.

·       Look at any help the author has given such as learning objectives, bold print, definitions in the margin, etc.

·       Look at the pictures or any inserts that will help you preview the information.

While reading:

·       Take notes – either separate or in the margins.

·       Be aware of your comprehension and reread if you get lost.

·       Stop periodically to recite, without looking, the information you just read.  If successful more forward, if not reread.

·       Be aware off how the information fits together and how it fits with the class in general.

After you are done:

·       Look back at what you have read and review the information.

·       Take any quizzes available either in the book or online.

·       If needed, make a study guide to further enhance your learning.

Next posting will look at eBooks – many of the strategies are the same, but there are a few challenges.

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First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.   Click on the upper right link.