Reading Strategies

When looking for specific information, it's a good idea to first skim the text by quickly looking for key topic identifiers like titles, introduction sentences, lists, graphics, and captions.

Once you've found what you're looking for, go to the specific information you want to know more about and quickly read it without bothering to read every word or irrelevant detail.

After getting the general idea, the next step is to close read it, which means reading and rereading it slowly and carefully to make sure you understand and remember the details.

As you read, especially with fiction, you can help your brain follow the story by trying to predict future events based on details you've already read. Then, when they happen, or don't, your brain will be more likely to register that event.

While reading, a smart approach is to question what's being said. This asks your brain to learn more and to be on the lookout for explanation, proof, or other relevant details that might answer your question.

Since text is only one type of input, if you visualize as you read, you add imagery input to your brain, which helps it create yet another connection, which in turn improves your chances of remembering and learning what you read.

When we read, we have prior knowledge that helps us understand the content. If you relate the text to related events, knowledge, and/or experiences, you activate more pathways in your brain, which helps store it in your long-term memory.

Comprehension of complex works involves inference, which means taking an educated guess at the meanings in the text. This leads to thoughtful analysis, which is a form of higher level thinking and processing.

Yet another strategy you can use both during and after reading is reflecting. This means thinking about what was said and deciding how you feel about it and ultimately, what it means to you and your life.