Making Sense of What You Read
Are you having trouble…?
- understanding what you read
- remembering what you read
Try these strategies.
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Read for a purpose. For example:
- to enjoy a story
- to find information
- to learn something new
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Understand the author's purpose. He or she may be writing…
- to inform you
- to share research findings
- to argue something
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Read with a goal. For example:
- to understand the main ideas
- to understand concepts and theories
- to interpret findings, draw conclusions, consider implications
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Read with your mind. For example:
- ask questions before you start to read and try to find the answers
- summarize the main ideas
- relate the main ideas to other ideas you already understand
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Focus on the structure. You can learn a lot about a text when you…
- use the title to predict what the text is about
- skim the introduction, preface, table of contents, back cover of a book
- read the abstract or the first and last paragraphs of an article
- look at chapter titles of a book or subheadings of an article
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To remember what you read DO something. For example:
- restate what the author says in your own words (paraphrase)
- explain in more detail the author's thesis
- examine the logic of the text: author's purpose; author's assumptions, point of view, or bias; key information; main concepts; author's conclusions; implications
Adapted from Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2003-2004). Critical thinking: The art of close reading (Parts I — IV). Journal of Developmental Education.