Being Aware of Yourself as a Reader

Issues

It's important to be aware of your style, knowledge, skills, and attitudes to the text you are about to read.

Before you start reading, reflect on the following 4 areas:

1. Learning Style
Your learning style is your preferred way of understanding the world, not your only or best way of learning.

Ask yourself: What is my personal learning style and how can I use my style to help me read better?
You can determine your own learning style by using a free on-line assessment tool such as:

Index of Learning Styles: www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSpage.html
VAK: www.businessballs.com/vaklearningstylestest.htm
Myers Briggs: www.teamtechnology.co.uk/mmdi/questionnaire/

For more information and strategies:
Go to the Undergraduate Student tab. Download the module "Academic Reading". In the pdf version, go to the TOOL "Learning Styles & Approaches to Reading" on pp. 14-15.

2. Background Knowledge/Schema
How much background knowledge do I have of the topic?

3. Attitude
What is my attitude to the reading? e.g. Do I feel motivated? Do I feel like putting it off?

4. Concentration and Focusing
How well will I be able to concentrate and focus on the reading?

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