1. Chapter 1:Reading Actively
Essential Reading Skills
Third Edition Kathleen McWhorter
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

2. Start with a Positive Attitude!
Send yourself positive messages.
Visualize success.
Set long-term goals.
Plan on spending time reading.
Actively search for key ideas as you read.
Unlock the writer’s message to you, the reader.
Stick with a reading assignment.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

3. Improve Your Surroundings
Choose a place with minimum distractions.
Establish a study area that is yours alone.
Control noise levels.
Eliminate distracting clutter.
Have supplies at your fingertips.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

4. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Pay Attention
Establish goals and time limits for each assignment.
Reward yourself.
Highlight or take notes to keep active.
Vary your activities.
Keep a distractions list.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

5. Preview Before You Read
Title and Subtitle
First Paragraph
Section Headings
First Sentence under Each Heading
Typographical Aids (italics, boldfaced type, underlining, numbering, colored ink)
Final Paragraph or Summary
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

6. Ask Guide Questions as You Read
Turn major headings into questions.
Look for answers to your questions. Highlight the answers as you find them.
Quiz yourself on your questions at the end of each section.
Avoid asking questions that have one-word answers like “yes” or “no”. Instead, ask “what,” “why,” or “how.”
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

7. Change Your Habits to Reduce Stress
Control your own time.
Give yourself a break.
Help someone out.
Get some exercise.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

8. © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Try Active Listening
Paraphrase the speaker’s thoughts.
Express an understanding of the speaker’s feelings.
Ask questions.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

9. Test Taking Tip #1: Active Test-taking
Remind yourself that you have worked hard and deserve to pass.
Think of the test as a chance to show what you have learned.
Don’t panic if you can’t answer a question. Make a guess and move on to items you can answer.
If you don’t know an answer, try to reason it out.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

10. Visit the Companion Website
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.