Effective reading strategies Neil McLean LSE Teaching and Learning Centre

Overview Purpose  Reading for gist  Reading for specific information  Reading for argument Sources Practice

Purpose Without knowing why you’re reading you can’t know how to read Options include  For strategy / overview  For practical information  For general understanding  For clarity  For essay answer information

Types of reading Skimming – reading fast for gist  Intro / concl. / sub headings / first sentences Scanning – reading fast for specific information  Sub headings – inside paragraphs Intensive – reading for deeper meaning  Find place as above – voice / rhetorical flow

Rhetorical flows Rhetoric is the flow of argument The classic flow (para. order) is thesis – justification – support Common approaches are knock downs, overview and implement, narrative / chronology / significance

Sources Study guide Further / supplementary reading Reading a reading list  Purpose – what are you looking for?  Kinds of text – general intro / new research  Dates – literature review vs. seminal texts  Titles – topic / answering articles

Practice Look at your copy of chapter 3…  What does the tutor / examiner want you to know about?

Practice  Reading for gist Does nationalism pose a threat to sovereignty? answer + reasons (p. 35 task 2.)

Practice  Skim reading What is the difference between a state and a sovereign state? (p35 outcomes)

Practice  Reading for gist Where is the info you need to answer exam question 2, p35?

Intensive reading - purpose Look at the text excerpt…  Read the intro, what will Fred Halliday do in this chapter?

Rhetorical flow Make a note of the to and fro of his argument in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 on pp 42 / 43

Rhetorical flows (previewing) Complete the notes by reading pp44/5 Main idea _____________________  1.  2.  3.  4.

Conclusion Know why you’re reading Organise how you’ll record the information you take Read appropriately to your purpose