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Reading and Llibrary
Research
A he content and selecting the relevant points for your own purpose; speed of reading, without comprehension, is of little value. We find the most useful strategy for academic reading is to develop some system for skimming a piece of writing in order to gain, from the start, a general view of the argument and material the writer is presenting. This can be done, with most academic texts, in the following way:
- Read the opening paragraph of the chapter or article - this usually sets out the main topic to be covered.
- Read only the first sentences of the paragraphs that follow.
- Read the whole final paragraph – this commonly sums up the argument.
Occasionally, depending on the author's style, it may be necessary to read the final sentence of each paragraph instead of, or as well as, the opening sentence. If the book makes use of headings, tables, illustrations or any other clues to understanding the body of the body of the text, these are useful guidelines for skimming.
The main advantage in using this style of skimming is that you gain an overview of the whole text first. On the basis of this you can then decide whether, for your say, i. e. the purpose of your essay, tutorial paper or test, you need to read the whole chapter or only one section, whether you need to take notes, whether the writer's
Argument is useful. This cuts out much unnecessary reading.
Overseas students find the emphasis on independent reading particular burden. Many have come from education systems with poor library resources, and so extensive reading is a new activity. Moreover, if they are not confident in their command of English quick and critical reading seems a risky business: `What if I miss some important points?' Our Indonesian student once again voices this worry: three short chapters
strategy for academic
not guarantee understanding |
