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PAC Tip: Reading Strategies

Our Peer Academic Consultants can help with a variety of skills, including reading strategies. Here are some useful tips on how to approach reading for class.

How can I start reading more effectively?

Do you find yourself overwhelmed by your reading? Do you have trouble retaining what you’ve read or find yourself needing to reread often? Here are some strategies for reading more effectively:

  • Asking the “why”?
    • Understand why the text was assigned and what is expected of you from the reading
    • Place the text in the course and history
  • Reading with a goal
    • Make marginal notes, briefly summarize what the paragraph is about
    • If there are any questions at the end of the reading, be sure to look for them while reading: highlighting/underlining regions with potential answers is a good way to do this
    • Make exam-type questions based on the reading
  • Active Reading
    • Ask pre-reading questions such as what you already know about the topic or predict what the author might discuss
    • Highlight any new terms
  • Making notes
    • Combine reading with effective note-taking strategies to retain information
    • Write a summary in your own words

How can I start reading more efficiently?

Does it take you a long time to complete your reading? Do you find yourself missing key information or remembering the wrong things? Here are some strategies for reading more efficiently:

  • Question
    • Write questions as you read regarding the chapter and make exam-style questions 
  • Read
    • Find answers to questions 
  • Recall
    • Try to remember the reading without reading from notes
  • Review
    • Compare how well you recall with your notes

Reading still taking you too long? Try skimming or speed reading!

  • Read the abstract
  • Use hand pacing
    • Move your pointer finger across the page below the sentence you are reading. This helps keep your eye focused.
  • Survey the chapter
    • Read the title, intro, headings, and conclusion of a chapter
  • Cover words you’ve already read with your hand or an index card

Need more help?

Check out the Peer Academic Consultants main page for more information on how to find support around this and other academic skills. Our Peer Academic Consultants (PAC) are also available for individual consultations during which we can discuss your academic skills and personalize these strategies to be most effective for you! If you would like to sign up for an individual consultation, please fill out Individual Consultation Intake Form.

References

Francis P. Robinson, Effective Study. 4th ed. New York: Harper & Row, 1970

Harvard University. (n.d.). Reading. Academic Resource Center at Harvard University.  

Nation, P. (2009). Reading faster. International Journal of English Studies, 9(2).