The experience you bring to a reading situation and your purpose for reading are almost as important as the act of reading. If your attitude is good, then your chances for success are greater. Good readers follow a series of steps before they sit down to read. If you begin practicing new habits about reading, you will become a more effective reader. Here are some of the things people do before reading the first page:
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feel how the book feels in the hands | |
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investigate the design of the cover | |
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predict what the title means | |
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try to associate the author with other authors or specialties | |
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preview the back cover | |
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read the dust jacket (if there is one) | |
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glance through the book and see what type of print is used | |
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skim through the index and read a paragraph or two from different chapters | |
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check to see if there are practice exams if it is a textbook | |
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look over illustrations, graphs and charts. |
While you are doing these activities, it is a good idea to have a pencil in your hand. You should jot down ideas that come to you about the book as you are investigating it. This is called brainstorming.
If you want to be a better reader, you must be actively engaged in the process or else you will not remember anything you read. Which brings us to the other step in the reading process, your purpose.
Are you reading for pleasure, to gain information, to understand concepts or to change your life? Your purpose will always determine how much time you spend previewing and how much time you will devote to the act of reading itself.
