How to Read Faster and More Effectively in College
1. Reading for College
Reading for College
How to read faster
How to read faster
AND more effectively
AND more effectively
2. Reading for college
Reading for college
First, let’s talk about
First, let’s talk about
reading speed
reading speed
This is not about trying to read as FAST
as you can . . .
. . . It is about learning to read
as effectively as you can
3. Test your reading speed
Test your reading speed
Open your text book at random;
Open your text book at random;
Put a little mark by one line;
Put a little mark by one line;
When I tell you to start reading, read from
When I tell you to start reading, read from
that mark and keep going until I say stop;
that mark and keep going until I say stop;
Don't
Don't try to speed read. Just read normally
try to speed read. Just read normally
so we can find your present reading level;
so we can find your present reading level;
When I say stop, stop right away and mark
When I say stop, stop right away and mark
the end of the line where you stopped.
the end of the line where you stopped.
4. Test your reading speed
Test your reading speed
Okay, now for some math:
Okay, now for some math:
Count the number of words in ten lines and write
Count the number of words in ten lines and write
that down;
that down;
now divide that number by 10. That is the average
now divide that number by 10. That is the average
number of words per line. Write it down;
number of words per line. Write it down;
now count the number of lines you read and
now count the number of lines you read and
write it on a piece of paper. Write it down;
write it on a piece of paper. Write it down;
multiply that number by the number of words per line,
multiply that number by the number of words per line,
and you have roughly how many words you read.
and you have roughly how many words you read.
Write down the number you get
Write down the number you get
You read for ten minutes. Divide the total numbers
You read for ten minutes. Divide the total numbers
of words you read by 10 and you have your words-
of words you read by 10 and you have your words-
per-minute.
per-minute.
Write it down.
Write it down.
5. Assessing your findings
Assessing your findings
150 wpm Insufficient
150 wpm Insufficient
250 wpm Average general reader
250 wpm Average general reader
(too slow for college)
(too slow for college)
400 wpm Good general reader
400 wpm Good general reader
(the minimum for effective
(the minimum for effective
college-reading)
college-reading)
600 wpm Strong college reader
600 wpm Strong college reader
1000 wpm Excellent
1000 wpm Excellent
6. Main causes of slower reading
Main causes of slower reading
word-by-word reading;
word-by-word reading;
slow perceptual reaction time, i.e., slowness
slow perceptual reaction time, i.e., slowness
of recognition;
of recognition;
vocalization—habitual or for comprehension;
vocalization—habitual or for comprehension;
Inefficient eye movements;
Inefficient eye movements;
Regression;
Regression;
faulty habits of attention and concentration;
faulty habits of attention and concentration;
lack of practice in reading—especially large
lack of practice in reading—especially large
amounts;
amounts;
fear of losing comprehension;
fear of losing comprehension;
habitual slow reading;
habitual slow reading;
poor evaluation of which aspects are
poor evaluation of which aspects are
important and which are unimportant;
important and which are unimportant;
the effort to remember everything rather than
the effort to remember everything rather than
to remember selectively.
to remember selectively.
7. So now what?
So now what?
There are three main factors involved in
There are three main factors involved in
improving reading speed:
improving reading speed:
(1) the
(1) the desire
desire to improve,
to improve,
(2) the
(2) the willingness
willingness to try new techniques, and
to try new techniques, and
(3) the
(3) the motivation
motivation to practice.
to practice.
Most people can double their reading speed
Most people can double their reading speed
while still maintaining equal or even higher
while still maintaining equal or even higher
comprehension.
comprehension.
Warning: In order to learn to read rapidly and well you must
Warning: In order to learn to read rapidly and well you must
have acquired the necessary vocabulary.
have acquired the necessary vocabulary.
When you can understand college-level materials,
When you can understand college-level materials,
you are ready to practice reading faster.
you are ready to practice reading faster.
The average college student reads about 350 words per
The average college student reads about 350 words per
minute. A "good" reading speed is around 500 to 700
minute. A "good" reading speed is around 500 to 700
words per minute, but some people can read a thousand
words per minute, but some people can read a thousand
words per minute.
words per minute.
What makes the difference?
What makes the difference?
8. Strategies for effective reading
Strategies for effective reading
Pre-Read
Pre-Read: Skim the piece looking for sub-headings,
: Skim the piece looking for sub-headings,
images, graphs etc. Try to get a sense of what the
images, graphs etc. Try to get a sense of what the
reading is about.
reading is about.
You can call this READING FOR PLOT (like reading
You can call this READING FOR PLOT (like reading
the end of a mystery novel before you get there);
the end of a mystery novel before you get there);
Pre-think
Pre-think: ask yourself some questions that this
: ask yourself some questions that this
reading might answer, things on the syllabus
reading might answer, things on the syllabus
perhaps, or from the lecture. Think BEFORE you
perhaps, or from the lecture. Think BEFORE you
read.
read.
You can call this CREATIVE THINKING;
You can call this CREATIVE THINKING;
Read in blocks
Read in blocks: Read several words at once (a
: Read several words at once (a
phrase, half a line, or a full line in textbooks with
phrase, half a line, or a full line in textbooks with
columns);
columns);
Pause ONLY at the end of sections. Don’t reread,
Pause ONLY at the end of sections. Don’t reread,
but jot down what you remember at the end of each
but jot down what you remember at the end of each
section. You can go back and reread at the end.
section. You can go back and reread at the end.
Don’t wait for the action replay. Just read!
Don’t wait for the action replay. Just read!
If you find yourself falling asleep--take a
nap! DO NOT keep reading. It is a waste
of time. Just give it up for a bit.
9. A Trip Down Memory Lane
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Remember reading about “Spot” the dog?
SEE
SEE
SPOT
SPOT
RUN
RUN
SPOT
SPOT
LICKS
LICKS
. . .
. . . No
No . . .
. . . LIKES
LIKES
SPOT
SPOT LIKES
LIKES
THE
THE
BALL
BALL.
.
10. A Trip Down Memory Lane
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Before that you sounded letters.
R - E - M - E - M - B - E - R
okay
RE - MEM - BER
REMEMBER!!!
11. Tricks for successful reading
Tricks for successful reading
Reading one word at a time in college is like
Reading one word at a time in college is like
sounding out letters or parts of words
sounding out letters or parts of words.
.
It TAKES
It TAKES TOO LONG
TOO LONG
Instead . . .
Instead . . .
Read in blocks
Read in blocks: Read several words
: Read several words
at once (a phrase, half a line, or a full
at once (a phrase, half a line, or a full
line in textbooks with columns);
line in textbooks with columns);
We are going to practice this
We are going to practice this
12. Tricks for successful reading
Tricks for successful reading
Think about how much effort it takes for your eyes to
Think about how much effort it takes for your eyes to
focus on EACH WORD AT A TIME!
focus on EACH WORD AT A TIME!
Let’s play the focus game for a minute. Focus on something a long
Let’s play the focus game for a minute. Focus on something a long
way away, now focus on something close up. Now look to your left
way away, now focus on something close up. Now look to your left
and focus. Now to your right. Now close up again.
and focus. Now to your right. Now close up again.
It took time for you to focus, right?
It took time for you to focus, right? That same process is occurring
That same process is occurring
every time you FOCUS on a word if you read word-by-word. See??
every time you FOCUS on a word if you read word-by-word. See??
It TAKES
It TAKES TOO LONG
TOO LONG
Your eyes get TIRED
Your eyes get TIRED
READ IN CLUMPS (clauses, phrases)
READ IN CLUMPS (clauses, phrases)
Let your eyes settle on several words at once (a
Let your eyes settle on several words at once (a
phrase, half a line, or a full line in textbooks with
phrase, half a line, or a full line in textbooks with
columns). SEE the words, but
columns). SEE the words, but don’t move your eyes
don’t move your eyes
or say them.
or say them.
We are going to practice this
We are going to practice this
13. Tricks for successful reading
Tricks for successful reading
Take a sheet of paper and fold it in half
Take a sheet of paper and fold it in half
Place it under a line of text
Place it under a line of text
If the text is in columns, put a dot on the
If the text is in columns, put a dot on the
piece of paper in the middle of the line
piece of paper in the middle of the line
•
•
As you read,
As you read,
move the piece of paper down the page so it
move the piece of paper down the page so it
is always under the line you are reading.
is always under the line you are reading.
Look at the DOT
Look at the DOT
and
and SEE
SEE the words,
the words,
but
but do not SAY
do not SAY them
them
We are going to practice this
We are going to practice this
14. Using the eye-guide
Using the eye-guide
• Move the eye-guide down
the page as you read.
• One line at a time.
• Focus on the dot, and just
see the words
Article source:
www.sedl.org/reading/
topics/brainreading.pdf.
15. Here are the
Here are the other
other tricks
tricks
Vocabulary
Vocabulary - Wait until you've finished reading to
- Wait until you've finished reading to
look up unfamiliar words. (If you stop, you'll
look up unfamiliar words. (If you stop, you'll
reduce your level of comprehension.)
reduce your level of comprehension.)
Comprehension
Comprehension - to improve comprehension,
- to improve comprehension,
repeat the main points of the chapter after closing
repeat the main points of the chapter after closing
the book. See how many specific details you can
the book. See how many specific details you can
recall. The more you interact with your text, the
recall. The more you interact with your text, the
more you'll recall. Recollection and
more you'll recall. Recollection and
comprehension require a vigorous approach.
comprehension require a vigorous approach.
Practice 1: Skimming & Scanning
Practice 1: Skimming & Scanning - find an
- find an
interesting newspaper column or magazine
interesting newspaper column or magazine
article. Rapidly read the article, sampling just the
article. Rapidly read the article, sampling just the
first sentence or two of each paragraph and a few
first sentence or two of each paragraph and a few
key words. Jot down all the facts you can
key words. Jot down all the facts you can
remember. Then reread the article slowly, giving
remember. Then reread the article slowly, giving
yourself a point for every item you can recall.
yourself a point for every item you can recall.
16. Now YOU need to practice…
Now YOU need to practice…
The Basic Program:
The Basic Program:
Two or three times a day
Two or three times a day, read something you enjoy for
, read something you enjoy for
15 to 20 minutes without stopping. Time yourself to within
15 to 20 minutes without stopping. Time yourself to within
30 seconds.
30 seconds.
Record your reading rate
Record your reading rate and chart your progress.
and chart your progress.
Recording and charting are essential if you wish to make
Recording and charting are essential if you wish to make
real progress.
real progress.
Push yourself gently
Push yourself gently as you read. If your mind wanders,
as you read. If your mind wanders,
get it back on track.
get it back on track.
Set reading-rate goals
Set reading-rate goals for yourself. Aim for a 10%
for yourself. Aim for a 10%
increase in your reading rate over the previous record.
increase in your reading rate over the previous record.
Practice skimming & scanning
Practice skimming & scanning by finding an interesting
by finding an interesting
newspaper column or magazine article and rapidly
newspaper column or magazine article and rapidly
reading the article, sampling just the first sentence or two
reading the article, sampling just the first sentence or two
of each paragraph and a few key words. Jot down all the
of each paragraph and a few key words. Jot down all the
facts you can remember. Then reread the article slowly,
facts you can remember. Then reread the article slowly,
giving yourself a point for every item you can recall.
giving yourself a point for every item you can recall.
READ YOUR TEXBOOKS ACTIVELY!
READ YOUR TEXBOOKS ACTIVELY!
17. REVIEW:
REVIEW:
TO ACTIVE READ YOU:
TO ACTIVE READ YOU:
Ask general beginning questions;
Ask general beginning questions;
Set a purpose by pre-viewing a
Set a purpose by pre-viewing a
chapter, and deciding what you hope
chapter, and deciding what you hope
to learn;
to learn;
Guide yourself through the reading by
Guide yourself through the reading by
skimming first, looking at its length,
skimming first, looking at its length,
sub-headings (
sub-headings (the plot
the plot), images,
), images,
charts and graphs, etc.;
charts and graphs, etc.;
Make notes, highlight, and summarize
Make notes, highlight, and summarize
AFTER
AFTER the reading is done!
the reading is done!
AND BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE!!!
AND BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE!!!
18. Okay, let’s try this
Okay, let’s try this
• Go back to the same piece you read
at the beginning.
• Take the piece of paper (your eye
guide) and put it under the first line.
• Reread this piece,
• Move your eye guide down the
page looking at the dot and just
seeing the words.
• I’ll stop you after ten minutes.
19. Okay, let’s try this
Okay, let’s try this
• Put a mark next to the line where
you stopped.
• Did you read more than the first
time?
Now PRACTICE
Good luck!!!
