Reading Comprehension

Before you begin to read, know your purpose! Are you trying to memorize formulas in algebra, or to determine the plot of a short story? Ask yourself why you are reading and how much time you will use. Setting clear reading goals, having a positive attitude, and reading in a comfortable place can help you concentrate and enjoy it!

Reading is very active! To get the most out of it, get involved with the material. Taking notes, outlining main points, recording important words and ideas, asking questions, and summarizing phrases in your own words will help you stay focused.

Every class you take will have some reading. Students often find themselves bogged down with reading and have trouble keeping up. Developing reading skills and improved reading comprehension can help.

One method that can help you read better is the "SQ3R" Method. It includes five techniques: Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review.

Survey

Surveying your reading helps you comprehend, or understand and remember, the reading. Begin by familiarizing yourself with the overall content. For example, note the title, author’s name and introduction of the reading. Read headings and subheadings. Look out for any graphs or pictures. Skim information like margin notes or definitions. Read through summaries and any lists of questions or definitions at the end.

Question

Think of questions and write them down as you read. This can help you pay attention. Ask yourself what the key terms and the main points are. After reading a section or paragraph, ask yourself specific questions about it. Try to restate what you read in your own words. If you can’t, go back and clarify what you don’t remember or understand. It is a good idea to summarize what the page was about at the bottom of each page.

Read

To help you read carefully, underline or highlight key ideas as you read. Try to understand the relationship of these ideas to each other. Only highlight primary information. Remember to review what you highlight later on. Taking notes in the margin or in a notebook as you read also helps generate questions and active thinking.

Recite

Talking to yourself out loud or silently about what you read can help you remember better! From time to time, pause from reading and restate main ideas and phrases in your own words. Summarize a section or chapter by explaining it to a friend or family member.

Review

Many reading assignments need several readings at different times to really be understood and remembered. Taking breaks and going back to difficult areas helps. Reviewing also helps you fill in the gaps that you missed or didn’t understand the first time. Another idea is writing main concepts on notecards; whenever you have a few minutes (in between classes or while waiting for the train) pull the cards out and read through them. This helps move the reading material into your long-term memory.

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