Active and focused reading

Survey

Before you begin reading, survey or skim the text that you are about to read. The purpose of this global reading is to gather the information necessary to focus and formulate goals. Here are some ways you could do this:

• Read the title - help your mind prepare to receive the subject at hand.
• Read the introduction and/or summary - orient yourself to how this chapter/article fits the author's purposes, and focus on the author's statement of most important points.
• Notice each boldface heading and subheading - organise your mind before you begin to read - build a structure for the thoughts and details to come.
• Notice any graphics - charts, maps, diagrams, etc. are there to make a point - don't miss them.
• Notice reading aids - italics, bold face print, chapter/section objective, end-of –chapter/section questions are all included to help you sort, comprehend, and remember.

Question

Questioning will help your mind to engage and concentrate. One section at a time, turn the boldface heading into as many questions as you think will be answered in that section. The better the questions, the better your comprehension is likely to be. You may always add further questions as you proceed. When your mind is actively searching for answers to questions it becomes engaged in learning.