This is now in the Tilted Knowledge Section :-p
Here
I know how to read, but I'm wondering if I really know how to
read.
I feel like my comprehension could be much higher then it is right now. Am I really appericiating poetry or am I just scanning through the words with my mind without giving it thought? Am I really UNDERSTANDING the material I am reading or am I just hammering it into my head in hopes of remembering?
I'm about to enter college and I am trying to find ways that will work for me. I've read several books on the matter and I've distinguished that most authors have variations on reading.
Now, I understand that there must be different styles applied to different types of reading (one would read a mystery novel differently from say, a Biology text book), but I am mostly concerned with school related reading. But here is a summary of my findings and conclusions. What are your opinions on it? What works for
YOU?
1. Before even you open the book, get into an
accelerated learning state. By relaxing your physical body and stating the goal and purpose of the reason for reading the material, you will be able to better absorb the information. This is the time to do relaxation excercises and get into a comfortable position (this doesn't mean that you can plop down on the bed with the TV on). State your purpose. Are you reading it for leisure? Perhaps for a class? And if for a class, what kind of information are you hoping to gain from the reading?
(A Relaxation technique)
Sit down, take a few deep breaths. Now, close your eyes and visualize a tangerine. Feel it, smell it. Can you feel the weight of the tangerine on your hand? Toss it from one hand to the other. With the feet firmly planted on the ground and your posture straight, place the tangerine on the upper rear part of your head and tap your head slightly. When you open your eyes, your field of vision will be enhanced greatly.
2. The next step is to preview the material, going through a section or a chapter. Note the titles and subheadings. Read the pictures, study them. Read the captions. This is the time to set up a mental frame of the chapter in your mind. It's a skeleton. After you've previewed the materal and you have questions in your mind, you're ready to fill the meat.
3. Return to the start and read the material. I personally was split at choosing the speed.
Comprehension comes before speed. So what if you can read at 5000 words for minute (wpm)? It won't matter if you can't understand anything. It's better to read slow and understand it. If you had to have heart surgery, would you rather have the surgeon make assumptions and jump around so he can make it home in time? Your speed, your choice, your grades, your decision.
3a. An option offered by a few authors has you creating an outline on notebook paper as you go along. I've found that this let's me organize my thoughts clearly, but it may not be for everyone.
4. After reading, return to the beginning and skim through the text. Figure out the important main ideas and mark them on the text. Highlight, underline, circle, glitter, whatever works for you.
5. Take a break (Actually you should take one whenever you feel like it- you will learn more from 10-20 minutes of concentration followed by 5 minutes of break rather then 60 straight minutes of mind-breaking study)
6. Return to the text and post-view. Read the captions and the subheadings again as you did in the preview. Can you explain what is in each section?
What do you guys think of my 6 steps? What could be improved? What kinds of environment do you read best at? Let's discuss. Let's enlighten. Let's learn how to read :-)