© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Chapter 1: Strategies for Active Reading

Academic Reading,

Fifth Edition

by Kathleen T. McWhorter

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Learning Objectives:

To understand how reading contributes to college success

To assess your learning styleTo build your concentration skillsTo develop multilevel thinking skillsTo learn to preview and predict before readingTo develop questions to guide your readingTo check your comprehension

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Reading & Academic Success

Reading is thinking!View Table 1-1 in your book to determine

the difference between an active reader and a passive reader.

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Take the Learning Style Questionnaire and see if you are:

AuditoryAppliedSpatialSocialCreative

VisualConceptualVerbalIndependentPragmatic

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Now interpret your scores from the discussion in the book.

AuditoryAppliedSpatialSocialCreative

VisualConceptualVerbalIndependentPragmatic

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Building Your Concentration

Eliminate DistractionsLearn to Focus Your AttentionAssess Your Concentration

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Eliminating Distractions

Choose a place conducive to reading.Notice your physical state (tired?

hungry?).Have necessary materials available.Choose your peak periods of attention

(evening? day?).Keep a list of distractions and then avoid

them.

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Focusing Your Attention

Set goals.Reread psychology lecture notes - 15 minutesReview chapter 9 in accounting - 30 minutesRead short story for English - 30 minutes

Reward yourself (snack, TV, phone call).Begin by reviewing previously read material.Write and underline as you read.Approach assignments critically as an active

reader.

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Assessing Your Concentration

Make a list of common distractions and problems that interfere with your concentration. Next to each item, note how you can overcome it. Discuss any items for which you have no remedy.

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Developing Levels of Thinking

KnowledgeComprehensionApplicationAnalysisSynthesisEvaluation

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Previewing and Predicting

Previewing familiarizes you with the content and organization before you read.Helps you think about the subjectGives a mental outline of the chapter content

Predicting questions occurs as you preview.

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

How to Preview Textbook Assignments

Read the chapter title.Read the introduction or the first

paragraph.Read each boldface heading.Read the first sentence under each major

heading.

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

How to Preview Textbook Assignments

Note any typographical aids.Note any graphic aids.Read the last paragraph or summary.Quickly read any end-of-article or end-

of-chapter material.

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Previewing Nontextbook Material

Pay close attention to the title.Identify the author and source of

material.Read the first paragraph carefully.Read the first sentence of each paragraph

if there are no headings.Pay close attention to the last paragraph.

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Activating Background Knowledge

Ask questions, and try to answer them.Draw on your own experience.Brainstorm - Write down everything that

comes to mind about the topic.THEN MAKE PREDICTIONS ABOUT

WHAT YOU WILL HAVE TO KNOW!

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Developing Guide Questions

Guide questions direct your attention to what is important in each chapter section you are reading.

The easiest way to make up guide questions is to turn the chapter title and headings into questions that you try to answer.

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Checking Your Comprehension

Recognize comprehension signals. (See Table 1-5 for positive and negative signals.)

Checking TechniquesUse your guide questions.Ask yourself thought-provoking questions.Use internal dialogue. Mentally talk to

yourself.

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Summary Questions

How do you improve your concentration?What is your learning style and how can you

capitalize on it?What are the six stages of thinking?Why is previewing important?How do you preview material?How do you make guide questions?What are some comprehension checking

techniques?

© 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Now read the psychology article and complete the exercises

following the article.

“Factors Affecting

Interpersonal Attraction”

by Josh R. Gerow