Lesson Topic 1: Reading Tips

text annotation indicator An animated character reads a book. The figure appears male with light skin and dark, short, shaggy hair. He is seated at a table and holds a purple book open with his left hand and has his right hand on a teacup. He wears a long-sleeved, zip-up, green turtleneck sweater and has an excited expression on his face. In this course, you will be responsible for reading short stories, nonfiction, poetry, and a novel. It is important to know how to read critically and effectively in order to best comprehend the material. There are several things you can do as a reader in order to read more efficiently.

- Pay attention. This may seem like common sense, but it can be easy to become distracted when reading, so you need to put effort into reading. It isn't the same as watching TV. Do a preview of the text before you begin reading it. Look at the headings and subheadings. View any illustrations. Skim the passage quickly before doing a thorough reading. Previewing the text will help you to remember the material before you read every single word of the passage or story.
- Try to avoid moving your lips when you read. This will actually slow you down. Reading should be an activity for your eyes and brain only. If you read too slowly, it can hinder your ability to understand what it is you are reading.
- Read actively. Reading is best done when you interact with the text. Have a pencil or highlighter in your hand when reading, especially when reading passages and stories for school-related assignments. Write questions in the margin. Circle words you don't know. Underline main ideas. Reading actively will help you to better remember the material as well.
- Read daily. The best thing you can do to become a better reader is to read often. Even if you do not like to read, try to read something every day. It can be a newspaper article, magazine article, or other short passage. It doesn't have to be an entire book. Reading daily will help you to become a better reader and will help with your reading comprehension.

Reading online can be more of a challenge than reading a hard copy of a text. You will find some tips about reading on a screen in this article.

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