Mp3 Script for Reading & Note-making: Lack of Speed Reading and Note-making at University By the Learning Strategies Development team at Queen’s University, Kingston. University students read enormous volumes of information which need to be understood and retained. Often students feel overwhelmed with the amount of reading required to do well in their courses. While there is no denying that students have to read hundreds of pages each term, those who possess effective reading skills and strategies cope well and succeed.   This presentation helps you assess your present reading skills and determine how to make them more effective. It focuses on strategies to help you read actively and efficiently and also retain what you read. The entire module is divided into three specific problem areas: Lack of Speed Lack of Comprehension Lack of Retention Although the presentation is meant to be viewed sequentially, they may also be viewed individually, according to your need. Setting Up for Reading Good readers prepare themselves to read before they put eye to page. They assess the purpose of the reading, their goals for reading, and also the expectations of the professor.   Answer the questions below before you begin to read to make your reading more efficient, effective, and meaningful. PURPOSE What is required of me by my professor? Myself? SOURCES of INFORMATION What sources of information are required? e.g. do I need to read the textbook? Are there alternative ways of getting the same information from others sources? e.g. Internet ENVIRONMENT What environment do I need for reading well? e.g. best time of day; best location QUANTITY How much reading needs to be done? How much do I want to do? NATURE OF THE READINGS What is the nature of the materials to be read? e.g. journal article, novel, textbook, bulletin Do I find certain type of materials more difficult? easier? TIME What time do I have available for this reading? Have I organized my time so that I can get the reading done? How long do I estimate the reading will take given my reading speed? Being Aware of Yourself as a Reader It’s important to be aware of your style, knowledge, skills, and attitudes to the text you are about to read.   Reflect on the following 4 areas before starting to read: 1. Learning Style: What is my personal learning style and how can I use my style to help me read better? (For more information on your learning style go to the TOOLS section of our Reading and Note-making module to “Reading & Your Learning Style”) 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? (For more information go to the TOOLS section of our Reading and Note-making module to “Improving Your Concentration”) Now let’s move to our first problem area: Lack of Speed To read well you need both speed and good comprehension. Don’t mistake the term “speed” to mean reading very fast. Speed refers to a pace which is required for the reading task. For example, when you survey and skim a text, you go very quickly down the page, trying to get the gist. By contrast a slower, more methodical pace is needed when reading for detail. To test your reading speed, go to our Reading and Note-making module (pdf or text-only versions) and scroll down to the TOOLS section where you will find the “Reading Speed Self-Test”. Slow Readers Experiments with slow readers show that they possess several common attributes. 1. Slow readers experience eye movement regression. That means instead of their eyes moving forward as fast readers do, their eyes move forward but then backwards to material already read. 2. Slow readers “fixate”—they tend to look at each word in a sentence, something that is not necessary in English, a language with a high level of redundancy. If you want to become a more efficient reader, here are some useful strategies 1. Use a Pacer Your primary school teacher was WRONG! Go ahead: use your finger to help you read faster. Using a pacer to guide the movement of your eyes across the page is recommended by reading experts. At first, not looking at each word might feel uncomfortable, so in the early stages use a guide or pacer to force your eyes to move ahead. Speed readers suggest using a very thinly pointed instrument, such as a kabob stick, as fingers are fat and can obstruct your vision. The pacer can be moved in different patterns depending on your style and the column width. a)      Slide down the middle of the page for narrow column layout. b)      Point at 2-3 spots in a sentence for full-length sentences. c)      Move in a zigzag pattern starting at one margin and moving to the other. This helps you target critical words and phrases and main ideas. Alternatively use a ruler under each sentence. This stops your eyes from regressing to words already read. 2. PRACTICE Practicing these techniques daily, for even 10-15 minutes, will increase your reading speed. Continue to use your pacer until you feel your speed is where you want it. Some people find using a pacer so helpful that they continue to use one throughout their lives. More Strategies to Improve Your Reading Speed 3. Learn how to skim Skimming is • Rapid reading • Extracting the gist of the material without reading every word • Skipping non-essential or less-essential material When should you skim read? • To make use of my background knowledge • To get the general idea of the article/chapter • To discern main points and significant detail • To set work/ reading priorities What do I look for when I skim? For guidelines on skimming go to our Reading and Note-taking Module, scroll down to the TOOLS section to locate “Skimming: A Checklist” 4. Build your vocabulary Build your vocabulary in your discipline. Overlearn definitions and basic concepts. Create your own ‘dictionary’ of new terms and phrases or put them on cue cards. Review your new terms daily. Lastly, don’t forget to regularly evaluate your progress. Ask yourself if your speed is improving overall and whether you are happy with your speed now. Also ask yourself which strategies are helping you read faster. If after using these strategies, your speed is not improving, consult a Learning Strategies for individual help. This completes Problem 1: Lack of Speed. For problems with comprehension, continue on to our next presentation.