Speed Reading: Assess your Reading Speed and Controlling External Influences Louise Livesey Academic Skills Adviser This workshop will: −Assess you reading speed so you know where you are starting from −Explore the way we read and how this can be modified −Look at the role that concentration and environment play in effective reading and how these can be improved.

1.How we read 2.Self-test your reading speed 3.‘Beneficial’ reading problems 4.Improving your concentration 5.Solving environmental issues Today’s Plan

Fixation points: reading in ‘chunks’ 1.How we read Fixations: ¼- 1 ½ seconds Eye movements

Activity 1 1.Read the text for 1 minute, note last word 2.Count the number of words on any three lines and add them together. (Take short lines into account). 3.Divide that number by three and you will have an average number of words per line. Make a note of this number. 4.Count the number of lines you read and make a note of this number. 5.Multiply the number of lines read by your average words per line and make a note of the number. 2.Self-test your reading speed

‘Mouthing’: reinforcement of reading and ‘inner voice’ as a memory aid Finger pointing: more efficient reading Re-reading: get out of ‘comfort zone’ and speed up 3.‘Beneficial’ reading problems

Conceptual difficulties: skim and scan, and ask for explanations Inappropriate reading speed: speed up Distractions: minimise, refocus, remind Poor organisation: targets, chunks and breaks Lack of interest: Sort out all issues and get annoyed Lack of motivation: set goals and actions Difficulties with vocabulary: see next slides 4.Improving your concentration

Vocabulary: prefixes Letters/words at beginning of a word to alter its meaning. Increase your vocabulary by 1000s of words. and Activity 2 4.Improving your concentration

Vocabulary: prefixes 4.Improving your concentration Ad-To, towardAdvocateTo speak for something Un-Not togetherUnconnectedNot linked Com-WithCompanyWith others Non-NotNon-entityThing of no importance Ex-Out, beyondExtendStretch out Re-Back, againReturnGo back

Vocabulary: prefixes Activity 2 4.Improving your concentration Pro-Forward, forPrognosisForecast of the course of a disease In-NotIndecisiveNot able to make a decision Dis-Apart, notDisenchantedNot under a spell Over-AboveOverachieverSucceed above what is expected Sub-UnderSubmarineUnder the sea Mis-WrongMisunderstandIncorrectly understood Trans-Across, beyondTranscontinentalAcross continents

Vocabulary: suffixes Letters/words at end of a word to alter its meaning. Change one part of speech to another. and Activity 3 4.Improving your concentration

Vocabulary: suffixes 4.Improving your concentration -erBelonging to Farmer, New Yorker One who works on a farm One who comes from New York -ismQuality or doctrine Realism, Socialism Tendency to view things as they are System of community control of production and distribution -iveNature of Creative, Receptive Having the quality of creating Having the quality of receiving -ise -ize Make, practise, act like Modernize Advertise Give a new modern character to To give information -logyStudy ofBiologyStudy of life

Vocabulary: suffixes Activity 3 4.Improving your concentration -lyHaving the quality of Softly, Quickly To touch with gentleness To move with speed -or A state or action, a person who, or thing which Victor, Generator One who wins One who generates something -ouse -ose Full of Murderous, Anxious Morose Dealing only with murder Full of anxiety Full of gloom -someLikeGladsomeAppearing happy -yConditionDifficultySomething that is difficult

Light: natural light or over the shoulder Study materials: have them to hand Chair and desk: not too soft/hard, knees higher than hips, learn to type Posture: feet flat and back upright, book tilted up. When to study: whenever you work best Interruptions: reduce them as much as possible 5.Solving environmental issues

References Buzan™, T. (2006a) The Buzan™ Study Skills Book. Harlow: Educational Publishers LLP. Buzan™, T. (2006b) The Speed Reading Book. Harlow: Educational Publishers LLP. Dictionary.com (2014) [online] Available at: [Accessed ]

Academic Skills Advice Service Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23 What do we do? Support undergraduate students with their academic skills by running clinics and workshops, having bookable appointment slots, and enabling students to drop-in for Instant Action. Who are we? Michael and Helen specialise in Maths Support; Lucy and Russell advise students on study skills; and I (Louise) deliver the workshops When can you come for help? Everyday both face to face and on-line How do I get in touch? academic- or website skillsacademic-

Any questions?