1. Effective Reading Think about your most recent reading experience
What did you do?
How did you approach your reading?
The Learning Centre
Grace Conti

2. Vector of Reader’s Interest
Ask students what human attention span is?
20 minutes
Source: Sheridan Baker The Practical Stylist 3rd Ed. Thomas Y. Crowell Co. New York
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

3. Find your purpose What is important? What is new? What is familiar?
Is my mind prepared?
READ WITH THE QUESTION IN MIND
That’s why Thesis Statement is written within first few minutes of reading.
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

4. Steps in Reading your Assignment Question
IDENTIFY THE TOPIC
The topic states what the assignment is about
IDENTIFY KEY TERMS
Instruction words – Verbs – give the directive
Content words – Nouns – give the topic
Modifiers – Adjectives, adverbs – give the tone/attitude/stance
H/O Effective Reading
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

5. Look for Cues of Organisation
Sequence
Cause and Effect
Problem/Solution
H/O Effective Reading bottom of first page
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

6. Turn the Assignment into questions
Example:
Organisms and organisations can survive rapid environmental change if they adopt renewal strategies embodied in living, learning cultures. They must simultaneously adapt to and embrace change, while evolving new ways of operating and allocating resources. In short, they must evolve and devolve to survive and thrive (Peterson, 2009, p. 238).
Get students to brainstorm individually and discuss key words and directives. Any lurking words?
What questions would you be asking mentally to start researching for this assignment?
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

7. Read with a question in mind
Discuss this with reference to organisational theories and principles, in light of an organisation with which you are familiar.
Refer to previous slide passage.
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

8. Make a list of Information to be Researched
Key terms
Key arguments
Key authors
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

9. Thesis Statement Start thinking of what your main message might be
Know the word count requirement – helps the ‘how much do I need to read’ dilemma!
How many key ideas can be developed within the limit?
Read with a purpose – what am I looking for?
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

10. Academic Writing requires Critical Thinking and Critical Reading
Start by asking yourself: “What do I think of what I’ve just read?”
Whilst you may have a point of view, this needs to be supported by critical thinking and evidence from texts.
Life experiences are important for critical thinking, but must be supported by researched evidence.
Be mindful of your biases and prejudices. Your argument/point of view must be valid.
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

11. Keeping a critical eye Content Evaluate the Evidence
Question surface appearance – figures; tables; charts; diagrams
Theory or model base
Conclusion
Does the evidence support the conclusion?
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

12. Where do I start? Course text Course lecture notes Recommended reading
Seminal authors (Who are they? Where can I find them?)
Academic journal articles
H/O Gathering & Evaluating Information
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

13. 1st Reading - Skimming Title Publication details Abstract
Graphics – images
Sub-Headings
H/O Reading Techniques
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

14. 2nd Reading - Scanning
Thesis statement or focus (last sentence of Introduction)
Introduction
Conclusion
Sub-Heading and First sentence of every paragraph.
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

15. 3rd Reading - Reading for detail
Looking for evidence to support your argument
Highlighting key words & concepts
Note-taking
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

16. 4th Reading – Reading for Recall
Read highlighted parts
Read notes
Make more notes
Combine notes from different sources.
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

17. The BIG tip!
Do NOT
Do NOT read more than 3 sources before you START WRITING!
You MUST start writing
to enhance your READING
efficiency and effectiveness
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

18. Note Taking The Cornell System – also very useful for synthesising.
Recall Column
Main notemaking
H/O Making Notes (on back of Reading Techniques)
H/O How to make good notes
Summary
Reading using Visualising
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

19. Highlighter Trap
Highlighting important information or facts so they can be easily found later, is a helpful strategy.
Highlighting everything you want to remember is not so helpful. Don’t confuse highlighting with active reading. They are not the same thing.
Sometimes students highlight so much information, it is impossible to distinguish what is of value from what is not.
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

20. How to Focus Sandy MacGregor’s Technique
Before reading text, take a deep breath and go to peaceful place within your mind using porpoise eye movement
Eye porpoising is done by closing eyes, roll them upwards (2 or 3 seconds), roll them back forward.
Do this 2 or 3 times.
Open eyes, look at text and
Tell yourself “I can’t wait to read this”.
H/O Sandy MacGregor’s Accelerated Reading and Comprehension.
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

21. Engage the subconscious
H/O for students to write/draw their own Peaceful Place and Napping or Meditating is proving to increase memory retention by 20%.
The Learning Centre CURTIN Grace Conti CRICOS 00301J