Reading Comprehension - Basics to Advanced
- 4. Learning Goals • Necessary for understanding textbooks, lectures, and other class materials for success in school and comprehend instructions, memos, and other work-related documents for success in workplace • Allows people to better understand the world around them by following the news, understanding complex concepts, and making informed decisions
- 5. READING SKILLS OR STYLES SKIMMIN G SCANNING INTENSIVE EXTENSIVE
- 6. Purpose: To understand the main ideas, themes, or overall structure of a text. How to Skim: 1.Read the Title and Subheadings: These often provide insights into the main topics. 2.Look for Keywords: Focus on nouns and verbs that stand out. 3.Read the First and Last Sentences of Paragraphs: These often contain the main idea. 4.Notice Visuals: Charts, graphs, and images can convey significant information quickly. SKIMMING going over a text briefly; saves plenty of time
- 7. Example 1: Newspaper Article 1. Title: Read the title to grasp the main topic. 2. Subheadings: Look for subheadings that summarize sections, like "Local Impact" or "Future Plans." 3. First Sentences: Read the first sentence of each paragraph to get a sense of the article's flow. 4. Conclusion: Read the last paragraph to understand the final takeaway. Example 2: Academic Journal 1. Abstract: Start with the abstract, as it summarizes the study's purpose and findings. 2. Keywords: Identify important keywords that stand out in the introduction and conclusion. 3. Headings/Subheadings: Look at section headings to determine how the research is structured. 4. Figures/Tables: Glance at graphs and tables, as they often highlight key data.
- 8. Example 3: Business Report 1. Executive Summary: Read the executive summary for a concise overview. 2. Bullet Points: Focus on any bullet points or lists that summarize findings or recommendations. 3. Highlighted Sections: Pay attention to any text that’s bolded or italicized. 4. Conclusion/Recommendations: Read the conclusion to understand the report's implications. Example 4: Fiction Novel 1. Chapter Titles: Look at chapter titles to get a sense of the plot progression. 2. First Paragraphs: Read the first few paragraphs of the first chapter and a few key chapters to get a feel for the writing style and main themes. 3. Character Names: Scan for character names to understand who is involved in the story. 4. Last Pages: Read the last few pages to get a sense of how the story resolves.
- 9. Example 5: Website or Blog Post 1. Headings/Subheadings: Skim through headings to identify key topics covered. 2. First Sentences: Read the first sentence of each section for quick insights. 3. Images/Quotes: Look for images or pull quotes that summarize key points visually. 4. Summary/Conclusion: Check for a summary at the end that encapsulates the main ideas. By practicing these skimming techniques across various texts, you'll become quicker at identifying the essential information!
- 10. • Scanning is a useful technique to employ both in education and real life. • Usually, you already know what the text is about, and you know it contains the information you need. • Like skimming, it saves you time and makes locating specific facts easy. SCANNING use to locate specific bits of information in texts
- 11. Scanning is a reading technique used to quickly locate specific information in a text. Here are some examples of how scanning can be applied: •Finding Dates and Events: •When reading a history textbook, you might scan the pages for specific dates •(e.g., “What happened in 1776?”) •or events (e.g., “Find information about the Civil War”). •Locating Definitions: •In a science article, you may scan for specific terms •(e.g., “What is photosynthesis?”) to find their definitions. •Searching for Names: •If you're reading a biography and want to know about a particular person, • you can scan for their name to find relevant details quickly.
- 12. •Identifying Numbers or Statistics: • In reports or articles, you might look for specific figures •(e.g., “How many species are endangered?”) and scan through to locate those numbers. •Finding Specific Questions or Answers: • In a textbook with review questions at the end of a chapter, you can scan to find the answers to questions you're unsure about. •Checking for Key Terms in a List: • In a technical manual, you might scan for key terms or phrases to find instructions or troubleshooting tips. •Locating a Specific Section: When using a guidebook, you might scan the index or table of contents to find the section on a particular topic, like “restaurants” or “hotels.”
- 13. The text is aimed at: A) Librarians B) Library users C) Council workers D) School students Information is given about borrowing CDs. A) True B) False
- 14. The text is aimed at: A) Librarians B) Library users C) Council workers D) School students Information is given about borrowing CDs. A) True B) False
- 15. Which category of video isn’t listed? A) educational B) exercise C) film D) travel A telephone number is provided. A) True B) False
- 16. Which category of video isn’t listed? A) educational B) exercise C) film D) travel A telephone number is provided. A) True B) False
- 17. This text tells you where to get more information about how many items you can borrow from the library. A) True B) False Members can also borrow CD-ROMs. A) True B) False C) The text doesn’t say
- 18. This text tells you where to get more information about how many items you can borrow from the library. A) True B) False Members can also borrow CD-ROMs. A) True B) False C) The text doesn’t say
- 19. Which month is ‘library month’? A) November B) August C) September D) April What is the name of the library? A) Frimsborough Town Library B) Frimsborough County Library C) Frimsborough Village Library D) Framborough District Library
- 20. Which month is ‘library month’? A) November B) August C) September D) April What is the name of the library? A) Frimsborough Town Library B) Frimsborough County Library C) Frimsborough Village Library D) Framborough District Library
- 21. To read intensively, you need: • Advanced vocabulary range • Excellent attention span • Good memory • Familiarity with the context (or extensive world knowledge) INTENSIVE READING diving deep into a given text; analyze not only every idea expressed in it but also the words and phrases the author has used
- 22. 1. Pick a reading material that deals with the topics you are interested in 2. Set a time for reading 3. Preview the text by reading the heading, subheadings, and first sentences of paragraphs 4. Read the text deeply, noting down any questions that come to mind or highlighting the statements you want to fact-check 5. Jot down the vocabulary items you are not familiar with. Try to discern the meanings of unknown words and phrases from the context before you look them up in a dictionary. 6. Engage in discussion with someone about what you read. TO PRACTICE EFFECTIVE INTENSIVE READING:
- 23. • Build a healthy habit of reading for at least an hour • Pick the material you are interested in like magazines, fiction novels, and comic books • Create a relaxing environment • Keep any distractions away • Regular extensive reading helps you EXTENSIVE READING reading for pleasure; take in new knowledge and engross yourself in the story
- 24. • Develop a habit of reading different types of articles to understand the tone, attitude, and style of writing of various writers • increase reading speed by solving different exam papers or online mock tests • improve vocabulary, read and solve comprehensions from different fields of knowledge, like Science, Arts, Literature, Politics, Economics, and Current Affairs, etc. IMPORTANCE OF READING HABIT