Buzz
A lot of individuals encounter frustration as they might be able to read swiftly without thoroughly comprehending the content or they might opt for a more careful study approach to grasp the material deeply, leading to slower reading. However, these two approaches are not as mutually exclusive as one might initially assume. Here are some techniques to assist you in extracting the maximum value from your reading experience on the initial go-through.
Essential Knowledge
- Allot 1-2 minutes for skimming the text and contemplating the information you need to absorb.
- Utilize a highlighter to mark crucial points and elements you wish to retain. You can revisit those sections swiftly later on.
- Employ a different colored highlighter to identify elements you find challenging to comprehend, enabling further investigation.
- Jot down any comments or notes alongside the text to facilitate better retention of information.
Procedure
Preparing for Reading
Preview the material. Allocate a minute or two to glance through the content and contemplate what you need to grasp from it. Utilize the steps outlined in the section 'Getting Acquainted with the Material' to Identify the fundamentals initially:
- Is it a compilation of facts? Understanding a concept? Chronological events?
- What type of learning is required?
Guide your reading by formulating queries pertaining to the upcoming content. Particularly when delving into assigned reading, consider the following pertinent questions:
- What is the purpose behind this reading task? What objective does the assignment serve?
- How does this assignment align with our ongoing activities? Does it encapsulate the central theme? Or is it merely supplementary to the main idea?
- What am I expected to derive from this? (Ideas, contextual information, procedures, overview?)
- What level of detail must I retain? (Is comprehensive understanding necessary, or will grasping the main concepts suffice?)
Jot down your responses to serve as prompts while reading.
Getting Acquainted with the Material
Reflect on your existing knowledge of the text. Consider the context in which it was authored or utilized. Sample inquiries could be:
- Who penned it? What insights do I have about this individual?
- When was it written? What do I understand about that era?
Familiarize yourself with the contents of the book, its structure, and the location of key information. Sample techniques comprise:
- Scan the Table of Contents (TOC)
- Browse through chapters and headings.
- Review images and charts.
- Peruse the introduction and conclusion.
- Scan introductory passages.
Consider your existing knowledge about the subject matter. You might not require further reading, or you might only need to peruse the sections where you lack understanding.
Identifying Key Points
Select a method that suits you for highlighting main concepts and significant details. Highlighting text serves as a means of cementing your comprehension––you can swiftly revisit the concepts and it will also jog your memory regarding your initial impressions when you marked those sections. The highlighting method will vary based on what you're reading, such as whether it's your personal copy or from the library, or if it's in print or on a screen.
Experiment with the highlighter and pen reading approach if you're using your personal book or paper. Employing this method ensures you always have queries and remarks on hand for class discussions, presenting you as a diligent, involved student. Here's how it works:
- Secure 2 highlighters and a pen.
- The first highlighter is for pivotal points and items worth remembering. (Use discretion—only highlight a select few per page.)
- The second highlighter is for unclear sections, queries, and areas of disagreement.
- The pen is for jotting down comments in the text. (This keeps your learning active and aids in memory retention.)
If it's a library book, refrain from making markings in it. Instead, jot down notes on cards, slips of paper, or in a separate notebook.
For extracting notes from an on-screen text, highlight the text, then copy and paste it into another document. Some formats also permit on-screen highlighting, comments, and other annotation methods.
Assimilating the Material
Ponder over what you've read. Avoid immediately shifting gears after finishing your reading. (Swiftly switching gears is a surefire way to purge everything you've just read from your short-term memory.) You'll process more effectively and remember more if you take a few minutes to contemplate what you've read.
Experiment with employing two or more of these strategies:
- Reflect on your pre-reading (align it with the course objectives).
- Compose a summary. Consider these questions for discussion:
- What is the author's intent? Who is the intended audience?
- What are the primary points/topics addressed?
- What evidence and rationale support these primary points?
- How does it relate to this course? Context.
- What am I expected to glean from this?
- How do I respond to this and with what intensity? Why?
- Interrogate the material. What do I deem incorrect/correct? Why? What justifications underpin my beliefs?
Revisit the reading material within 24 hours for a secondary processing session. This aids in transitioning the material from short-term to long-term memory.
Initiate any assignments promptly subsequent to reading the text. If you find the necessity to review the material to complete your assignment, you'll be able to locate the relevant sections more expediently.
Pointers
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Many PDF readers offer options to highlight in various colors and to underline or annotate, thus adapting the highlighter and pen method for screen reading is viable.
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If rereading the book isn't feasible, try making notes. Notes facilitate better retention.
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Ensure you get a full night's sleep (typically 8 hours) to facilitate the transfer of newly acquired information into long-term memory.
The guidance provided in this section is drawn from the real-life experiences of Mytour readers like yourself. Should you have a helpful tip you wish to contribute to Mytour, please share it in the designated field below.
- If you find it difficult to maintain focus while reading a book or printed material, try using a sheet of paper to cover everything below the line you're currently reading. Move the sheet down after completing each line to help concentrate on one line at a time, rather than worrying about the remaining content.
- If you're struggling to comprehend the material you're reading, consider seeking videos on the same topic. There may be videos available that effectively break down complex concepts, enhancing your understanding.
- Read the text aloud to yourself, or ask someone to read it aloud to you. Not everyone retains information solely through reading; hearing it spoken aloud can aid in retention.
- If you've highlighted or underlined important sentences, transcribe the highlighted text into a new document and review it separately.
- Prior to studying, take a shower and ensure you're adequately hydrated. Learning is facilitated when you're clean, energized, and hydrated.
