Do You Know How To Read? Are You Sure?

S ounds crazy, right? How to read? It’s not when you’re reading to learn a new skill, increase your knowledge, just reading the words won’t do. The technique below works with the written word in all its iterations: online, magazine, text book, instruction manuals for advanced equipment, procedures, vehicles.

• First, scan the material paying attention to bold text, sections of the work, and their titles. Get a feeling for what the work contains and how it’s organized. Don’t start reading word for word. Not yet.
• Okay, you’ve read the chapter title and scanned it. You know what it contains and how it’s presented.
• Now, go back to the beginning and do another abbreviated read, but this time in more detail. Read the subheadings and the first sentence of each subsection. Now, you’ve got a better idea of what’s what, where it is, and – most importantly – the weight and importance of how the author presented the material.
• Now, yes finally, read the chapter in depth. Don’t hesitate to make notes in the margins, underline, or highlight what you think is important. Here at tip: read the captions under graphics, photos, side bars, and highlight anything important to you.
• You’re not done: ask yourself what you just read. What was important. What you think of the material. Questions? Write them down, bring them up in class, or add them to your additional research notes. Then  go online and answer your questions.

You may think me crazy, that’s fine, but give this a try the next time you do serious research.