MASTER YOUR READING SKILLS
READING TECHNIQUES
One of the essential tools that help a student excel at studying is the reading technique. Reading is fun and recreational reading is a beautiful time-spending thing. However, when studying, a student can be asked to read tons of materials, textbooks, research papers, etc. Mastering and using a proper reading technique is a time saver and a key to successful studying.
Here are some different reading techniques that students can use to improve their reading skills:
1. Skimming: Skimming is a technique for quickly reading a text to get the main idea. It involves reading headings, subheadings, and each paragraph’s first and last sentences to understand the overall message promptly.
2. Scanning: Scanning is a technique for finding specific information within a text. It involves looking for keywords or phrases relevant to your search and quickly scanning the text for those terms.
3. Active reading involves engaging with the text to improve comprehension and retention. It consists in taking notes, underlining or highlighting important information, and asking questions about the material.
4. SQ3R: SQ3R is a reading technique involving surveying, Questioning, Reading, Reciting, and Reviewing. This technique consists of surveying the text to get an overall understanding, creating questions based on the text, reading the text to answer those questions, reciting the information to reinforce learning, and reviewing the material to ensure retention.
5. PQRST: PQRST is another reading technique for Preview, Question, Read, Summary, and Test. It involves previewing the text to get an idea of what it’s about, creating questions based on the text, reading the text to answer those questions, summarizing the information to reinforce learning, and testing your knowledge to ensure retention.
Different reading techniques work better for different types of texts and learning styles. Experiment with other methods to find what works best for you.
LET’S HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AT THEM
SQ3R is a reading strategy for Survey, Question, Read, Reciting, and Review. It’s a step-by-step approach to reading and studying that helps improve comprehension, retention, and critical thinking skills. Here’s a breakdown of each step:
- Survey: The first step is to survey the material to understand what you’ll be reading. It involves scanning the headings, subheadings, and visuals to get a general idea of the content.
- Question: Once you know the material, create questions based on what you’ve surveyed. It can help you focus your reading and improve comprehension. Think about what you want to know, what you’re curious about, or what you think will be necessary.
- Read: After you’ve created questions, read the material carefully, looking for answers to your questions. Pay attention to headings, subheadings, and visuals to help organize and understand the information.
- Recite: Once you’ve finished reading a section, recite the information aloud or write it down in your own words. It can help reinforce learning and improve retention.
- Review: After reading the entire material, review the information to ensure retention. It could involve summarizing the material, creating flashcards, or testing your knowledge with quizzes or practice problems.
PQRST is another reading strategy for Preview, Question, Read, Summary, and Test. It’s a step-by-step approach to reading and studying that helps improve comprehension, retention, and critical thinking skills. Here’s a breakdown of each step:
- Preview: The first step is previewing the material to understand its meaning. It involves scanning the headings, subheadings, and visuals to understand the content.
- Question: Once you understand the material, create questions based on what you want to know. It can help you focus your reading and improve comprehension. Think about what you want to learn, what you’re curious about, or what you think will be necessary.
- Read: After you’ve created questions, read the material carefully, looking for answers to your questions. Attention to headings, subheadings, and visuals to help organize and understand the information.
- Summary: After reading a section, summarize the information in your own words. It can help reinforce learning and improve retention.
- Test: After reading the entire material, test your knowledge by answering or creating new questions. It could involve creating flashcards, taking quizzes, or solving practice problems.
PQRST is a flexible strategy that can be adapted to different types of texts and learning styles. It’s a great way to approach reading and studying to improve comprehension, retention, and critical thinking skills.
Skimming is a reading technique that involves quickly scanning through a text to get the main idea or key points. Skimming is often used when you need to get an overview of a text or when you need to find specific information quickly. Here are some tips for skimming:
- Focus on headings and subheadings: Headings and subheadings can give you a good idea of the text and help you identify key points.
- Look for keywords: Keywords are often bolded, italicized, or underlined in the text. Look for these keywords to identify the main ideas quickly.
- Pay attention to visuals: Visuals such as graphs, charts, and images can convey information quickly and easily. Skim these visuals to get a sense of the main ideas.
- Read each paragraph’s first and last sentences: The first and last sentences often contain the main ideas. Skim these sentences to understand the content quickly.
- Use your peripheral vision: Instead of reading each word individually, try using your peripheral vision to scan through the text quickly. It can help you identify keywords and main ideas more quickly.
It’s important to note that skimming may only be suitable for some types of texts or purposes. For example, if you need to understand a complex concept or argument fully, you may need to read the text more carefully and critically. Skimming is best used to get an overview of a text quickly or locate specific information.
Scanning is a reading technique that quickly searches a text for specific information. This technique is often used when you need to locate a particular detail, fact, or piece of information, such as when looking for an answer to a specific question. Here are some tips for scanning:
- Know what you’re looking for: Know what specific information you’re looking for before scanning. It will help you focus your search and save time.
- Scan headings and subheadings: Headings and subheadings often give you a good idea of where to find the information you’re looking for.
- Look for keywords: Keywords are often bolded, italicized, or underlined in the text. Look for these keywords to locate the information you need quickly.
- Attention to visual cues: Visual cues such as bullet points, lists, or tables can often contain the information you want. Scan these visuals to locate the relevant information quickly.
- Use your peripheral vision: Instead of reading each word individually, try using your peripheral vision to scan through the text quickly. It can help you locate the information you need more quickly.
It’s important to note that scanning may not be suitable for all texts or purposes. If you need to fully understand a complex concept or argument, read the text more carefully and critically. Scanning is best used to locate specific information within a text quickly.
EMPLOY TECHNOLOGY TO MASTER READING
Several apps can help train you on reading techniques. Here are a few examples:
- ReadMe!: ReadMe! is an app that uses speed reading techniques to help improve reading speed and comprehension. The app includes a variety of reading exercises and games to help users practice different reading techniques.
- Spreeder: Spreeder is an app that helps users improve reading speed by displaying text in a format that encourages speed reading. Users can adjust the speed and difficulty of the reader to customize their reading experience.
- AccelaReader: AccelaReader is an app that uses speed reading techniques to help users improve reading speed and comprehension. The app includes a variety of exercises and games to help users practice different reading techniques.
- Reading Trainer: Reading Trainer is an app that helps users improve reading speed and comprehension through exercises and games. The app includes a variety of reading techniques, including skimming, scanning, and active reading.
- QuickReader: QuickReader is an app that helps users improve reading speed and comprehension using speed reading techniques. The app includes a variety of assignment exercises and games to help users practice different reading techniques.
Remember, while these apps can be helpful, it’s important to practice reading techniques regularly to see real improvement in your reading skills.
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