OPVAA header
Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs

Information for learning: making it your own

ReSTExL@DCU
Previous ¦ Next

Introduction

There may be certain themes, concepts, ideas and methods of presentation that you should be looking out for while reading in your particular discipline(s). Over the course of several readings you will begin to notice their emergence. For example, reading in the sciences will differ from reading in the humanities. Ideally, all learning skills should be developed within the particular parameters of your discipline(s). As you engage in the university learning experience you will progressively develop knowledge of subject-specific discourse, and through participating in it come to understand its particular conventions. In the meantime, if in doubt, check with your lecturers.

Think about what you normally read (e.g. magazines, newspapers, novels, reports, etc.).  Now think about an article or book you have been asked to read for your programme.  Use a blank page, divided in two to compare both pieces of text.  Make a list of the ways in which you think they differ from one another. 

If you can see what makes reading the academic text difficult you are half way to solving the problem!  Your page might look something like this:

Your text (e.g. novel you like)

Academic text
Easy to understand/follow  Difficult to grasp the main point of what is being said
I know most of these words  Use of specialist terminology
No references or footnotes   Use of references and footnotes
Focus on people, places and events  Focus on concepts and ideas
Chapter just starts     Use of headings
No obvious introduction/conclusion  Introduction at beginning of each section
Four or more paragraphs to a page  Paragraphs much longer
Generally shorter sentences Long sentences
Vivid description Analytical writing                ……etc.

  This exercise adapted from Crème, P. & Lea, M. (2003) Writing at University.  (2nd ed.) Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Learning objectives

At the end of this unit you will be able to:

  • understand the importance of reading and consequently the importance of reading effectively,
  • better manage your reading and use your time more effectively,
  • use strategies to help you engage in active and focused reading,
  • understand how you can incorporate critical reading skills as you go along.

PDF print version of these notes