In “Regular reading vs test reading” we identified some major hurdles in test reading. Here some very basic steps to overcome those issues. This is an otuline lesson summary of major reading skill ideas.
- Find the main idea first: Even a small passage is trying to get a specific idea through. Skimming through the passage before you read it will give you some context of what the passage is about. Start with subject and then the specific topic of the subject. This read through of the text before you move in for the kill will help you grab the inner ideas well and help you to connect them with each other and place them in a larger context. This is a very simple skill to master. All you need to do is now whatever you read , paragraph by paragraph try and identify the main idea and the topic statement, i.e that one idea that captures the crux of the paragraph. This very simple activity develop your ability to round up an idea.It will help you distinguish between main idea and secondary details in a text, in other words the point being made and the data used to support or clarify that point. It will improve your paraphrasing skills and help you answer main idea questions.
- Read actively: Active reading is asking questions while reading all the time.One major problem in test reading is maintaining the concentration level while reading difficult , unfamiliar text. This very simple habit of asking questions about whatever you are reading automatically ensures your involvement. Active reading is asking a question about whatever word you are reading. For example the text goes like this ” it is one of the major reasons for that” active reading is asking what is “it” and what is “that”. We are not talking about big fancy intelligent questions we are talking about ” what is this” kind of questions. Asking questions you will often find the answer very easily since after all the answer is there in text but this activity will help you relate sentences and paragraph with each other. For example say the second paragraph of a passage starts with ” this did not work too long” your active reading questions should be “what did not work too long” and since whatever we are talking about is in the previous paragraph and you are coming from that very paragraph so the answer will not take too long but it will refresh and consolidate what you have just read. Also you would have looked for the main idea of the previous paragraph so by active reading you just for a microsecond repeat the idea because a question was raised, if you know the answer while you see the word sentence already very good you are on the right track and are paying attention. So remember ask questions while you read.
- Be aware of keywords: But, however , yet, since , therefore, because, on the other hand, though , although and many other words help connect two sentences or ideas. the word used tells us the relationship between the sentence we have read and the sentence we are about to read. In fact knowing keywords and their various functions gives you the magical reading power of prediction. For example a however or a but shows a change in reasoning or turnaround of logic whereas a therefore or a because indicate conclusion and reason respectively. ok try this ” although Ponting is a great athlete…………………..” what do you come in the blank ? (a. another positive statement, b. a negative statement). Knowledge of keywords and paying attention and using active reading whenever you encounter them will go a long way in improving your comprehension.
- Be aware of text structures : your keywords will help you establish patterns at both paragraph and passage level helping you fit all the pieces all together. Quickly identifying the pattern/structure helps you assimilate the information better since you already know what kind of information is going to be presented.A common structure that almost everybody is aware of is chronological where the information is presented in order of time. A passage may have an overall structure and a structure operating at paragraph level. Pattern recognition will go a long way in helping you make a cohesive whole of the ideas in the passage.
- Improve your Argument analysis/Critical reasoning: Most expository text is trying to make a point , convince you of something so there will be plenty of arguments presented in the text and you will find questions pertaining to understanding , analysis and application of the arguments. Developing your critical reasoning skills is a necessary component of your reading skills.
- Read as much as possible: Not technically a skill but a habit which is necessary for building great skills since the more you read the more practice you get in the above. You also see the keywords and usage and and hence develop your reading info database. Super Regular reading and from a wide variety of sources can to a certain extent the problem of unfamiliarity and fear. Plus reading is the surest fasted way to increase your intelligence both hardware and software.
All the skills mentioned here are discussed in plenty of detail in courses section in the reading 101 course.