Reading at University Academic Skills Unit Gill Byrne & Chris Ireland

Outline What is Reading? Definition Characteristics Types of Reading at University

Reading Definitions Older definitions Recognising the printed word Conversion in the mind of script into spoken equivalents

Washing Clothes First arrange things into different groups. One pile may be sufficient depending on how much there is to do. If you have to go somewhere else due to a lack of facilities that is the next step, otherwise you're ready. It is better to do too few things at once than too many. At first, this may not seem important but complications can easily arise, and mistakes can be expensive. Initially, the whole picture will seem complicated but it will soon, become just another fact of life. It is difficult to foresee any end to the necessity for it in the immediate future, but then one never can tell. After the procedure is completed one arranges the materials into different groups again ready to be put into their appropriate places. Eventually they will be used once more and the whole cycle will then have to be repeated. However, that is a part of life.

Reading Definitions Modern Definitions go further Creating meaning from texts Building on existing knowledge Without these there is no reading

Read the text ‘How Reading Works’ Taken from: Northedge, A. (2005) The Good Study Guide. Buckingham: Open University Press.

Question Which paragraph was easiest to read? More familiar with the concept More foundations to build on Therefore better reading

Characteristics of Reading

Purpose Why are you reading?

Characteristics of Reading Purpose Why are you reading? Text What are you reading?

Characteristics of Reading Purpose Why are you reading? Activity How are you reading? Text What are you reading?

Characteristics of Reading Purpose Why are you reading? Activity How are you reading? Text What are you reading?

Example 1 Text type: Novel Purpose: Enjoyment Activity: Linear reading

Example 2 Text type: Telephone directory Purpose: Obtain information Activity: Types of non-linear reading

Example 3 Text type: Academic Text Purpose: Obtain information Activity: Types of non-linear reading

Characteristics of Reading Purpose Why are you reading? Activity How are you reading? Text What are you reading?

Reading Academic Textbooks What’s your specific purpose? Prepare for a lecture Answer questions set for homework Answer your own questions Get ideas for an assignment Find specific information for part of an assignment

Surveying Check the publication date Check the blurb on the back cover Browse the contents page Browse the index Does the text still seems useful? A text can be rejected at any point in the survey process.

Before collecting information Always note down the full reference of the source Keep all reference details in a database Avoids accidental plagiarism Saves time in the long run (and sanity!)

Chapters (Skimming) Read the objectives or abstract (if any) the introduction the conclusion or summary any questions after the chapter section headings opening sentences of paragraphs

Skim Reading Don’t Read Your Papers Please! Read the introduction and the first sentence of the remaining paragraphs.

Chapters (Scanning) Have specific questions in your mind Identify the most likely place for the answer Look out for key terms Make careful notes (when depends on you) Copy with quotation marks “ … ” or Paraphrase and write the short reference.

Scan Reading Maybe you already have questions in your mind. If not, try these: 1)What problems arise from timing when a presentation is read to the audience? 2)How might reading a presentation have implications for students with disabilities? 3)What are the differences between spoken and written discourse?

Reading Critically Don’t just note down the information. Ask critical questions: Do I agree with the argument? Who is the author? Is evidence provided to support the ideas?

Reading Critically Ask more critical questions: Is there an alternative view? Do the conclusions follow from the argument?

Conclusion There are many ways to read Choose the right one for the task Don’t dilute your mind with useless information! Read as little as you can to get as much relevant information as you can.