Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 1 How to Read a Book

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 2 Initial Assignment Read the back cover. Break the book in. Read the preface. Read chapter 1 & 2.

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 3 Session 1 Active Reading Who are the active participants in reading? What is the passive object in reading? Discuss reading being active and skillful.

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 4 Session 1 The Goals of Reading Discuss reading for information and reading for understanding. How is learning from a book like pulling ones self up by the bootstraps? How do the goals of reading fit into the understanding of the differences between information, knowledge, and wisdom?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 5 Session 1 Learning by Instruction and Discovery Why are second year students called sophomores? If even instruction is active learning, how should we take blanket criticisms of lecture type instruction?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 6 Session 1 Learning by Instruction and Discovery Why are second year students called sophomores? If even instruction is active learning, how should we take blanket criticisms of lecture type instruction?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 7 Session 1 Practice Read the biography of John Stuart Mill, p. 367, and answer the test questions which follow.

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 8 Session 1 Assignments Read Chapters 3 – 5. Create a one page summary of Inspectional Reading, using a word processor. Include the following information: – Systematic skimming – Superficial reading – The four basic questions – Marking a book & note taking Bring your one page summary to the next class.

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 9 Session 2 Elementary Reading What method of reading was taught to you? Have you seen strengths or weaknesses in that method? What stage of reading are you at?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 10 Session 2 Inspectional Reading – Skimming What should you look at during systematic skimming? Is skimming active reading? If yes, why? Practice skimming Addicted to Mediocrity, by Franky Schaeffer What is book about? What kind of book is it?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 11 Session 2 Inspectional Reading – Superficial Reading Describe superficial reading. What is the problem with speed reading?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 12 Session 2 Be a Demanding Reader Discuss the four basic questions a reader asks. List some different ways to mark a book. What might you use the inside of the front and back covers for? Discuss the various types of notes you might take on a book.

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 13 Session 2 Assignments Skim a book you havent read before and be prepared to answer the four basic questions as far as skimming will allow. Read Chapters 6 – 8. Be prepared to answer the four basic questions on the assigned chapters.

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 14 Session 3 Pigeonholing a Book Why classify a book before reading it? What are the two main types of books? What are the two sub-divisions of expository books? List and describe the kinds of theoretical books.

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 15 Session 3 Pigeonholing a Book – Titles What is the title of our book? Who wrote it? Does our book have a sub-title? What is it? Can you always tell the type of book by its title? If no, list several reason why.

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 16 Session 3 Pigeonholing a Book – Practical & Theoretical Define & discuss practical and theoretical. Have you heard hard-headed practical talk decrying theology? What is your response? What kind of book is the Bible? What about Matthew, Proverbs, and Hebrews?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 17 Session 3 X-Raying a Book List the four rules of the first stage of analytical reading. What is How to Read a Book about? What are the major parts of our book and how do they relate? Spend 5 minutes coming up with an outline for the X-Raying a Book chapter.

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 18 Session 3 X-Raying a Book Just in case this is getting to theoretical and seemingly unimportant, consider Lockes idea on p.82 of no innate ideas. Can you reconcile this with Romans 1:18ff?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 19 Session 3 Coming to Terms with an Author Can a term have more than one meaning? Can a term be more than one word? Does anything in this chapter remind you of the Being Logical class? What is the handy rule of thumb for determining terms? Is this rule always right?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 20 Session 3 Coming to Terms with an Author How do you determine the meaning of a term? Discuss p.110s consideration of vocabulary & terminology. What are some of the key terms in How to Read a Book?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 21 Session 3 Assignments Begin a second sheet, detailing Analytical Reading. It should have the rules for analytical reading and incorporate the stages of analytical reading. You may also want to have the types of books on this page too. Read Chapters 9 – 12. Put to use inspectional reading and the first state of analytical reading skills you have learned thus far.

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 22 Session 4 Determining an Authors Message What is the key proposition of Chapter 9, Determining an Authors Message? Contrast this second stage of analytical reading to the first. Discuss, how essential a part of reading it is to be perplexed and know it. (p.123) Why is it important to state important propositions in your own words (p.125)? State the perplexed proposition in your own words.

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 23 Session 4 Determining an Authors Message, cont. How due rule 6 & 7 relate? What rule does rule #8 refer back to?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 24 Session 4 Criticizing a Book Fairly Talk about teachability. What is the criteria for legitimately saying, I dont understand? Do you agree that all rational men can agree? (p.147) What is the difference between knowledge and opinion?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 25 Session 4 Agreeing or Disagreeing with an Author What are the four criteria for criticism? Are there any other possible valid reasons for disagreeing? What is the fallacy Machiavelli commits on p.159?

Copyright 2008, Scott Gray 26 Session 4 Assignments Browse Part 3, reading one or two sections which interest you. Read Part 4. (By the way, what do I mean by browse and read?)