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Ls009 guide to effective reading

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Ref: LS009 | Skills for Learning| March 2018
SKILLS FOR LEARNING
GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE READING
WHAT IS EFFECTIVE READING?
Reading for academic study can be different from reading for leisure. When reading a novel you would
read the book from cover to cover but academic reading can be more of a selective process. You will
often only read the chapters or pages that are relevant to the subject you are researching.
By reading effectively you will learn to question and survey the text you are reading to gain a better
understanding of your subject. By improving your reading skills you can reduce unnecessary reading
time and this will enable you to read in a more focused manner.
WHY IS READING IMPORTANT?
Reading is an important way to gain information and will underpin much of your academic study
including researching and writing assignments, revising for exams and following up on information
taught in lectures. Most academic reading is motivated by the need to find and understand
information and develop ideas and arguments.
BEFORE YOU START READING
Before you start reading it is important to consider how much detail is required and the amount of
time you are able to dedicate to the task. This will help you set realistic goals of what you can
accomplish within a given time. It is helpful to approach reading by developing a basic understanding
of the topic before studying it in depth.
TOP TIPS FOR READING EFFECTIVELY
1. Your reading list provides a good starting point for reading materials relevant to your course. Reading lists
usually include a mixture of both essential and recommended reading.
2. Go beyond your reading list to find additional reading materials (including books, e-books, journal articles) to
expand your subject knowledge.
3. Be selective about what you read and remember you can’t read everything. Dont spend time reading in
detail without first checking how relevant the text is. You can do this by:
Surveying the text by looking at the table of contents, chapter headings, abstracts and
summaries. This will help you assess the material so you can decide if it contains the
information you need.
Scanning to get a general feel for the text. Look over the material quickly for key words,
headings and illustrations. You can get an idea of what the text is about by reading the first
and last sentence of each paragraph.

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SKILLS FOR LEARNING GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE READING WHAT IS EFFECTIVE READING? Reading for academic study can be different from reading for leisure. When reading a novel you would read the book from cover to cover but academic reading can be more of a selective process. You will often only read the chapters or pages that are relevant to the subject you are researching. By reading effectively you will learn to question and survey the text you are reading to gain a better understanding of your subject. By improving your reading skills you can reduce unnecessary reading time and this will enable you ...
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