UNIT 1

Reading

• How often do you read newspapers or magazines or story books?
• Do you think it is important to improve your reading skills? Give reasons.
• Match the words with their meanings.

decide specific identify process technique ignore gist leisure emphasis recall

special importance or attention to pay no attention to somebody/something the time when you do not have to work; relaxation to make a choice or come to a conclusion about something to remember something precise; particular to recognise or say who or what somebody/something is a particular way of doing something general idea a series of actions that you do for a particular purpose

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There are different ways of reading. Did you know that you don't always have to read every word on a page? How do you decide when you should read every word, and when a quick look will do? It depends on the reason you're reading something. In order to know how you should read it, you need to ask yourself why you're reading it.

When you are deciding which texts you should look at, you preview. You check whether a book or article is likely to be useful before you decide whether to read any further. If you need to get a general idea, you can skim the text quickly. If you are looking for a specific piece of information, you can scan for that detail. On the other hand, if you are studying a text in depth, you may need to read in detail and think carefully about all of it.

Reading involves word recognition, comprehension, fluency, and motivation. Reading is making meaning from print. It requires that we: 1) identify the words in print – a process called word recognition, 2) construct an understanding from them – a process called comprehension, 3) coordinate identifying words and making meaning so that reading is automatic and accurate – an achievement called fluency.

Scanning: reading quickly to find specific information. It is a technique you often use when looking up a word in the telephone book or dictionary. It involves moving your eyes quickly down the page looking for specific words and phrases. It is a skill that saves time when you're doing research because it puts a focus on the task. You are looking for information quickly and you know what you are searching for (key words). You 'see' every item on the page, but you don't necessarily read the pages - you ignore anything you are not looking for.

Skimming: reading quickly through a text to understand the main ideas. You are not necessarily searching for a specific item and key words. When you read the newspaper, you're probably not reading it word-by-word; instead you're scanning the text. It is useful to look at chapter/section headings, summaries and opening paragraphs.

Skimming is a high speed reading process and is done at a higher rate than normal reading for comprehension. Skimming on its own should not be used when complete comprehension of the text is the goal. Train yourself to move your eyes quickly across what you are reading. Don't stop to look at anything in detail. Just try to get the gist.

Extensive reading: reading longer texts, often for pleasure and for an overall understanding. Reading for leisure tends to be 'light'. This form of reading does not generally require complete concentration.

Intensive reading: reading shorter texts for detailed information with an emphasis on understanding. This type of reading takes time and requires a high level of concentration. Some material is not easily understood and so requires a slow and careful read. People use this type of reading for unfamiliar words and ideas, scientific formulae. It can take up to an hour just to read a few lines of text.

Here are some tips to improve your ability and increase your success in reading.

Pre-Reading Tasks: Before reading the text, ask yourself what you already know about its topic. Try to recall as much information as you can. Make brief notes or discuss what you remember with others.

Research the Topic: Background information may appear on book covers and inner flaps of book jackets. Many books include an introductory section and a mini-biography about the author. Book publishers’ websites may also include background information. Think about the information you read. Ask yourself: What kind of text is this? Is this text informative or entertaining, fact or fiction? What interests me about this book?

Ask Questions: As you read, what questions come to mind? Read on to find the answers. You can think about the questions and answers or write them down on paper.

Test Yourself: After reading, quiz yourself on the main points. What was the main idea? Who are the characters in the story? What information did you learn?

Reflect on the Material: Discuss the reading material with a classmate, a friend, or your parents. Share your opinions on the material, and ask questions of each other. What happened in the text? Why is it important? What have you learned? Was the reading meaningful to you?

Choose the correct answer.

1. You preview a book in order to

A. decide if you want to read it                    

B. get a general idea

C. get specific information                           

D. get details

2. When you concentrate only on finding the information you are searching for, you

A. skim                                                        

B. scan

C. read intensively                                         

D. read extensively

3. ________________ requires the greatest amount of time.

A. scanning                                                    

B. skimming

C. intensive reading                                         

D. extensive reading

4. Background information may be found in

A. book jackets                                              

B. introductions

C. publishers’ websites                                   

D. all of the above

5. ____________________ requires the greatest concentration.

A. skimming                                                   

B. scanning

C. intensive reading                                        

D. extensive reading

6. Reading for leisure means

A. reading quickly                                          

B. reading for entertainment

C. reading with concentration                          

D. reading for information

7. We can improve our reading skills by

A. asking ourselves questions about the text while reading

B. quizzing ourselves on the main points after reading

C. both (A) and (B)

D. neither (A) nor (B)

8. Reading speeds differ according to

A. style of reading                                         

B. purpose of reading

C. time for reading                                         

 D. length of text

9. A work of fiction is

A. about the author himself                           

B. based on fact

C. informative                                                

D. about something imaginary

10. A suitable title for the text is

A. Reading Habits                                         

B. How to Become a Good Reader

C. Types and Strategies of Reading              

D. Different Ways of Reading

Answer the following questions.

11. What kinds of reading technique would you use to read a textbook? Why?

12. When you search for information on the Internet, which reading strategies do you use?

13. Why must you preview a text or book before reading?

14. What are the advantages of using different reading strategies?

Study Habits

Here is a questionnaire for you to answer. It analyzes your study habits for you.

1. I usually spend hours trying to study everything the night before an exam.

       True      False  

2. I go to class, but I usually doodle, daydream, or fall asleep.

       True      False  

3. I need to improve my reading speed.

      True      False  

4. I have done poorly on a test because I was upset when I took it.

      True      False  

5. I don’t know how to pick out what is important in the text.

       True      False  

6. I usually seem to get the wrong material into my class notes.

      True      False  

7. I do not review my class notes within 24 hours of the time I took them.

True      False  

8. I usually do my assignments the night before they have to be submitted.

       True      False  

9. I study enough for my test, but when I get there my mind goes blank.

      True      False  

10. I can’t sit and study for long periods of time without becoming tired or distracted.

      True      False  

11. When I get to the end of a chapter, I can’t remember what I’ve just read. 

      True      False  

12. I rarely try to study without the radio or TV turned on.

       True      False  

13. I get nervous when my teacher announces a test date.

       True      False  

14. I always study hard for a test.

      True      False  

College tutors will expect you to do better than you did in high school, and that means you must adjust your study habits to meet this challenge. A good way is to look at the ways in which college coursework differs from high school.

Common differences between college and high school courses are that in college:

• Material is presented more rapidly and in larger quantities.
• All assignments count toward the final grade.
• Keeping up with previous material is essential to understand new topics.
• Out-of-class time is necessary to learn course material.
• Critical thinking is more important than memorization.
• Students are expected not only to understand the specific examples given in class, but also to apply their knowledge broadly.
• Neither professors nor parents are “looking over your shoulder” to make sure that coursework gets done on time.
• Help is available, but you must learn how to use their help! 

Now let’s consider some general keys to academic success.

Time management: One of the most difficult challenges you will face is that you are now in charge of deciding how your valuable time is spent.

One of the most serious mistakes you can make in college is to think that you have “plenty of time” to get things done. Because your high school workloads were lighter than those in college, and also because more of the work in high school involved simple memorization, it was probably easy for you to “cram” the night before a test and still get a good grade.  College is not like high school in this regard. You simply cannot get by in college with only last-minute efforts on assignments, and therefore, you must learn to manage your time wisely.

Reason you are in college: College is a time of many changes, both social and intellectual. One of the keys to academic success in college is learning to balance these pressures. Making new friends, joining social organizations, and involving yourself in campus life are all important elements of your personal development. You should never forget, however, that the main reason you are in college is to get an education!

College work goes on at a quick pace, and missing class is a sure way to quickly fall behind. Never think that the lecture attendance is unimportant as long as you have the handouts. Regular lecture attendance on your part is essential for success in all the subjects!

Study often and early: As you may have already discovered, the coursework is demanding. Moreover, there will be many weeks in a semester where more than one course will have exams, papers, or other assignments due at the same time. It is therefore essential that you stay ahead of your classes by studying often and early. If possible, study ahead of the lecture schedule during the early part of the semester to reduce the load on yourself during midterms and the final weeks of each term.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Sometimes it’s difficult for students to admit that they are having trouble with a class. Pride, embarrassment, or just the shock of realizing for the first time that you are unable to quickly master a topic can all lead to this situation. Unfortunately, many students wait too long before doing something about their difficulties in class. Should you find yourself having problems, you must not be afraid to ask for help as early in the semester as possible! Colleges offer many resources that can improve your academic performance. Advice from your Academic Advisor is certainly a better way to help solve your academic problems.

Stay healthy and well-rested: With the freedom to pick and choose your lifestyle comes a personal responsibility to look after your health. It is impossible to be a good student if you are always exhausted, whether it’s from studying or socializing. Even one day of being too sick to attend classes can set you behind. Also, the less sleep you get, the harder it is to be alert in class, which means that you fail to gather information necessary for your academic success.

Resources to Help You Succeed:

• Taking advantage of your tutor’s office hours is also a good way to build a personal relationship with your instructors, which makes learning more fun.
• The Internet is a great resource for information about course topics. Learn to use it along with textbooks and other course materials.
• Consider taking time to learn about ‘study skills’.
• Make use of review sessions before each exam.