Read in a quiet place, and don’t answer text messages or respond to social media posts.
What’s the topic? What do you already know about it? Why has the instructor assigned this reading now?
It’s faster to breeze past new words, but savvy readers take time to look up unknown words.
Mark this text with brackets or an asterisk. Pay close attention to the introduction and opening paragraphs, which often reveal this information.
As you peruse a textbook, write queries in the margins, then answer those questions in a separate notebook. This approach helps to maintain concentration; while reading, consider whether the text answers each question.
For instance, the McGraw Center suggests that the section heading “The Gas Laws of Boyle, Charles and Avogadro” could be changed to “What are the gas laws of Boyle, Charles and Avogadro?”
Read a paragraph, then write a sentence summarizing the main point that paragraph conveys. Also think about “what it does” — does the paragraph back up the author’s thesis, introduce an opposing view or go in another direction?
This is a longer version of “what it says.” Write a couple of paragraphs that condense and restate an essay or chapter in your words. You can only do this if you really understand what you’ve read.
This exercise gives students a chance to think like professor.
Try explaining aloud what you have been studying. This exercise will move the material from your short-term memory to your long-term memory. It also will let you know if you understand the material.
If an assignment seems especially daunting, break it into smaller, more manageable pieces. And when your attention wanders, stand up and take a quick break.
Tackle the hardest reading first, particularly if you struggle with procrastination.
After slogging through a difficult assignment, reward yourself with a break — have a snack or a chat with a friend.
There’s just too much reading in college to read one assignment multiple times. Reading the same passage over and over also is an inefficient use of time. By concentrating more deeply, you can absorb information the first time, without rereading.
Reading dense, difficult material is hard work. Understand that reality, and manage your time accordingly. Few students can read effectively for hours at a time, so schedule regular breaks.