In many high school and university classes, instructors will sometimes assign reading books. This activity can be exhausting and challenging, so you may need help reading fiction for a literature class, or a nonfiction biography for a history class. So that you can read effectively and efficiently, prepare an organized strategy to help you understand, remember, and enjoy the book.
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Part 1 of 3: Prepare for Active Reading
Step 1. Find a quiet, quiet place to read
Diversions, such as a cell phone, television, or computer, can slow down and limit your ability to focus. Decide if you need to be really quiet or have background noise, such as white noise or natural sounds (if you're reading outdoors) to help you concentrate.
- Keep your books and notes organized nearby so you don't spend time searching for them.
- Choose a comfortable bench or sitting position, but make sure you don't fall asleep while reading.
- Don't assume you can "multitask" (multiple things at once), for example while browsing the internet or watching TV while reading. Multitasking is a myth. For maximum reading, focus on the book and nothing else.
Step 2. Review assignments from your instructor
You must understand the purpose of the teacher giving reading assignments so that you can focus on the topics and ideas at hand. Maintaining focus will also help you understand the book better and summarize more effectively.
- If the instructor asks an essay or topic question, make sure you understand it.
- If you need to answer several questions in a row, read them carefully and use the dictionary and class notes to clarify any words or ideas you don't understand.
Step 3. Preview before you read the book
Use basic preview strategies to help you guess about the overall subject of the book, as well as understand the outline of the setting. If you know the topics the book will cover in general, you are more likely to understand them and summarize them well.
- Read the book's front and back covers and folds for an overview of the subject and information about the author.
- Read the table of contents to learn more detailed information on the subject and overall arrangement of the book. Compare with the lesson syllabus to determine the order in which chapters or sections of the book are read.
- Read the opening and the first chapter to get a feel for the author's writing style, in addition to learning more information about the important subjects or book characters in the novel.
Step 4. Write a brief reflection on your preview
These reflections will help you feel more confident about understanding the material, as well as help you focus on the topic at hand. This reflection will also improve your ability to remember the material in the book, because this way, you will have reference material to study.
- What did you learn about the subject and the author of the book?
- Is the book organized into chronological chapters? Or is it a collection of essays?
- How can this book help to complete assignments given by the lesson instructor?
- How will you record it?
Step 5. Ask questions about what you already know about the book or topic
Setting a background on a related subject can help with understanding the book and help you read more actively and quickly.
- What is the topic of the book? What do you already know about the topic?
- Why does the lesson instructor combine this reading with other readings in the same semester?
Step 6. Set yourself goals for reading books
Even if you don't have a specific assignment, you should always remember why you read a book. Considering your personal goals will help you understand your reading, so this can influence your choice of reading strategies. Add this reading purpose to your reflection statement.
- We usually read nonfiction with the aim of seeking specific information or getting a preview of a particular topic/concept.
- We read fiction to enjoy quality stories and pay attention to character development. In literature classes, we may also read more carefully for themes that grow and change throughout the book, or find a particular style and language that the author chooses.
- Ask yourself: “What do I want to learn and what questions do I want to ask about this topic?”
Step 7. Research the personal context
Whenever you read a book, personal experience will influence your understanding of the story, its words, and its subject matter. Be aware that the context in which you are reading may be very different from the context in which the book was written.
- Pay attention to the date of the first printing of the book and the country of origin. Think about the history of that era and location.
- Consider the topic of the book and write down your personal opinions and opinions on the topic. You may have to forget about it for a while in order to analyze the book rationally and academically.
- Be aware that authors may have different perspectives. Your job is to understand their point of view, as well as to respond personally to their material.
Step 8. Read any additional material the class instructor provides about the book, the author, or the topic
This step will help you to read the material according to the author's intent and purpose, rather than from your own perspective. This will also help you to understand the events or ideas the author gives about his book.
Ask yourself the question: “What was the author's purpose for writing this material? Who is the target reader? What are his critical views on the related topic?”
Step 9. Get ready to take notes
Engaging actively with reading texts through the note-taking method will improve your understanding, concentration, and memory skills. Instead of passively hoping that you will understand and remember all of the material, set up a clear method for recording responses and summarizing as you read.
- Some students choose to take notes in the margins of the book and underline the reading. If your method is like this, make a plan to collect everything after each reading session. Do it separately.
- Create a chart book based on your reading assignments and/or goals. You can use multiple lines for chapter summaries, details about topics or characters, themes you're interested in, and questions and responses. Add notes to this book as you read.
Part 2 of 3: Reading to Understand and Remember
Step 1. Read the material and take a break to check your understanding
Use a preview of your book arrangement and instructor assignments to determine the best way to manage reading time. You can read in specific times, or break them down by chapter or use.
- If you read fiction, you may be able to read longer because the narrative style is more interesting.
- Non-fiction reading may make you have to focus more on the purpose of reading. You don't have to read a bunch of essays in order. Instead, try reading in order of topics or focus areas based on your interests or tasks.
Step 2. Stop every few minutes and try to remember the details of the reading
If you can remember almost everything, this means your reading speed is ideal. If not, stop more often and try again.
- As your memory improves, try increasing the time or frequency of reading. With practice, your comprehension and memory skills will grow. You will eventually become a much better reader.
- Before starting a new session, try to remember your previous reading sessions. The more you practice this memory skill, the stronger your concentration and memory will be.
Step 3. Adjust the reading speed
Different types of books require different speeds to achieve good understanding. Easier texts, such as novels, can be read much more quickly than a collection of academic essays. However, according to research, reading too slowly can also have a negative impact on your understanding of difficult material.
- Keep your eyes moving and your attention focused. Use an index card, ruler, or fingertip to underline the text you are reading.
- Stop often to check comprehension so that your confidence can be built as your reading speed develops.
Step 4. Take brief notes while reading
Each time you stop to check your understanding of details, make a note of the main ideas from the passage you just finished. This list of main ideas will serve as an outline for a section that can be used to memorize material and prepare for tests and essays.
- If you take notes in the margins, take the time to rewrite them elsewhere, such as a notebook, word processing document, or note-taking app.
- Make a list of topics or subjects and record the details you learn. This summary should include the main ideas and arguments, while detailing the facts and ideas that support them. Combine it with your diagram book.
Step 5. Use a dictionary to find out the meaning of unfamiliar or important words
These words may come in handy when you're writing an essay about a book, or they may be terms you need to understand for an exam. Keep adding words, sentences, and their dictionary meanings for reference in this list.
Step 6. Ask and write down questions as you read
The teacher asks students to check their understanding of the text, as well as engaging in academic and personal ways. By asking questions as you read, you can remember and understand information better, and analyze and discuss it in greater depth.
- If you take notes straight away, write questions in paragraphs and collect them in your note-taking system or diagram book.
- When stopping to check understanding, look at your questions from the previous section and try to answer based on the new reading.
- If the nonfiction work you're reading has titles and subtitles in its chapters, change these headings to questions that can be answered as the reading continues.
Step 7. Write a chapter summary in your own words
Take advantage of the notes you've already made, either in the margins or in a diagram book, but make sure the summary is brief. Focusing on the main ideas will help to see the “big picture” of the text and connect ideas from one chapter to another, in addition to your assignment.
- Copy and quote the page for any direct quote that seems to answer a question or fulfill your reading purpose.
- You can also repackage and quote ideas that are useful for assignments or reading purposes.
Step 8. Record the patterns of ideas that emerge
Write down any recurring significant images, themes, ideas, or terms that appear in separate sections of a notebook or diagram. Develop these themes into essay topics or discussion comments. All of which will help you think more critically about the book at hand.
- Mark readings that seem important, repeat, or make you think in some way, with an “X”. Write your reaction to it in the margins of your book or in your own place.
- After each reading session, review all the passages that have been skipped and reread, both marked and your notes on them. Ask: “What pattern is here? What does the author want to say about these themes or ideas?”
- Write the response next to your original note. Include direct quotes and sources, then explain why they are interesting or important.
Step 9. Talk to a classmate or other friend about the book you are reading
Sharing the responses and the information collected will help you to remember the information better. Classmates may also be able to correct any information or misunderstandings you have. Together, you can think more actively about the main ideas and themes of the book.
- Check the summary and notes in detail to make sure you haven't missed anything.
- Discuss the patterns you find and add new conclusions.
- Answer each other's questions about the book and the assignment.
Part 3 of 3: Reflecting on Reading
Step 1. Summarize all available summaries
Reread your summary notes and list of main ideas, then create a main summary that is no longer than one page. This step is important for your understanding of the book and your ability to remember the material. Understanding the main ideas in your own words will result in a more complete understanding of the book.
- Summaries that contain too much detail may be overwhelming and distract you from the main points.
- Use a “beginning-mid-end” structure to help summarize the novel.
Step 2. Outline your detailed notes
Using the main ideas as the main points of the outline, include details and direct quotations as subtitles and explanations. Outlines can show the structure of the book and support your understanding of the themes.
- Use full sentences for the main idea and short phrases for details.
- Keep your outline balanced, involving the same number of subtitles for each main point.
- Review your picture book for ideas on how to structure bullets and subpoints.
Step 3. Look for connections between this book and other readings
Recognizing the similarities between this text and others will strengthen your understanding, while comparing them will help in exploring different perspectives on the same topic.
- Ask yourself: “How does this author's approach or style relate to other books on the same topic or in this genre?”
- Ask yourself: “What have I learned that differs from other people's information or perspectives in other books?”
Step 4. Evaluate the author's arguments if you are reading nonfiction
The class instructor may be interested in reading your evaluation of the author's reasoning and validity, so you should be able to critique the author's claims and the evidence he or she provides to support them. Review your notes on the main ideas and supporting details to critique the author's thesis.
- Determine if the author looks credible: did he use accurate research? Was it influenced by certain theories or ideas? Does there appear to be a clear bias? How can you find out?
- Examine graphics, such as pictures, and determine if they are useful for understanding the author's argument.
Step 5. Reflect on your personal response
Reread the notes and expand your response to include thoughts about the author's style and structure of the text. Check the author's style and your response to it.
- “What style did the author use? Narrative or analytical? Formal or informal?”
- “How was I influenced by the format and style of the book?”
- Make sure you can explain why this style and your response are important to understanding the book's argument, theme, or story.
Step 6. Try to answer the questions that come up as you read the book
Curiosity is one of the keys to understanding and enjoying books, so if you ask good questions, you can gain a broader and deeper understanding of the book.
- Good questions often lead to interesting and complex statements for the essay.
- These answers may not be simple facts from books; the best questions lead to greater input about ideas, stories, or characters.
- If you can't answer some specific questions, ask an instructor, fellow student, or friend for help.
Step 7. Make a list of “teacher questions” based on the reading
Anticipating the types of questions or essay topics that might come up will make you feel much more confident when the teacher asks them. Even when your questions don't exactly match what the teacher asked, think like a teacher to be prepared for a wide exam.
- Use different types of questions, such as those with short answers, essays, and word questions, to practice your factual knowledge and critical thinking skills.
- Prepare yourself an answer key, including essay questions, so you can use both the questions and answers as study guides or notes for longer compositions.
- Work with classmates to make long tests as a more intensive study guide.
Step 8. Review your notes daily
Reading notes and thinking about books will further deepen your understanding of them and produce more mature responses to exam questions and essay topics. Always prepare for exams well ahead of time, so you can feel confident when you start.
Don't spend time rereading books, unless you're looking for a particular quote or fact. Rereading does not produce understanding, and may lead to frustration or boredom
Step 9. Discuss the book again with classmates
One of the most satisfying parts of ending a book is taking the time to discuss it with fellow readers. You can check together understanding and details, and share personal responses and reasons regarding the author's story or claim.
- Run a final check of the records for errors or omissions of details.
- Prepare for conversations about themes you are aware of and exploration of ideas in the book.
- Answer each other's questions about the book and its assignments to make sure you've thought through all of its components thoroughly.
Tips
- Reading online summaries of books will not produce the same level of understanding or enjoyment as what you can get through reading and citing yourself.
- Avoid plagiarism and practice understanding by taking notes in your own words.
- Try not to reread, as rereading may be a result of low self-confidence when you are trying to understand the material.
- Stopping to check comprehension and taking notes may seem like more time consuming, but it can actually reduce overall time because it means you don't have to reread as often.
