Three Levels of Reading Reading on the Lines Reading Between the Lines Reading beyond the lines
The First Level of Reading Reading on the line Find meaning DIRECTLY in the text As you read, mentally answer the questions Who? What? When? Where?
The Second Level of Reading Reading between the lines Interpretation of the text. Analyze what you read: interpret, classify, compare, contrast, find patterns… As you read, your key concerns are the following: What does the passage represent, suggest or personify? What does a certain reference or metaphor mean?
The Third Level of Reading Reading beyond the line Move beyond the text to connect to universal meaning. Go from “what?” to “so what?” Ask yourself: How does this text connect to my life? With life in a larger sense? With all human beings? With my ideas about morality or values? What is the author telling me about life in a larger sense—about being human?