The Basics of College Textbook Reading

1. The Basics of College Textbook Reading Chapter 2 Guide to College Reading by Kathleen T. McWhorter PowerPoint by Mary Bahner

2. Headings and Subheadings

3. 1. Preface – found in the beginning of the textbook • Why & for whom the author wrote the text • How the text is organized • Purpose of the text • References and authorities consulted • Major points of emphasis • Learning aids included and how to use them • Special features of the text • New materials included since the book’s last update Textbook Learning Aids and How to Use Them

4. 2. Table of Contents (TOC) – found in the beginning of the textbook • Lists all important topics and subtopics • Good overview of a text and its organization • Look over TOC before reading a chapter • Find out how each chapter relates to the whole textbook • Good review for an exam because it lists major topics Textbook Learning Aids and How to Use Them

5. 3. Opening, or First, Chapter • Author sets the stage for what comes later • Defines the discipline (subject—Reading in College) • Explains basic principles • Introduces terminology (vocabulary); on an average 20 to 50 new vocabulary words introduced in chapter 1 of a college textbook Textbook Learning Aids and How to Use Them

6. 4. Typographical Aids • Different types of fonts—bold, italics, colored print • Enumeration—numbering (I. or 1.) or lettering (A. or a.) of key ideas • Listing—bullets, numbers, letters, etc. Textbook Learning Aids and How to Use Them

7. 5. Chapter Exercises and Questions • Review questions over factual content. • In-chapter review questions • End-of-the-chapter review questions • Discussion questions deal with interpretation of content. • Application questions ask you to apply your knowledge to the world around you or to a real-life situation. • Critical thinking questions ask you think deeply about a topic or issue. • Problem questions are usually mathematical. Textbook Learning Aids and How to Use Them

8. 6. Boxes and Case Studies • Boxes contain: • Interesting information • Extended examples to illustrate text concepts • Sometimes an indicator of what the author considers important • Case studies follow the life history of a person, or the business practices of a particular company—valuable applications of the textbook concepts to the real world Textbook Learning Aids and How to Use Them

9. 7. Vocabulary Lists • At the beginning or end of the chapter • May have page number • Key words • In every class discussion • On every homework assignment • On every test Textbook Learning Aids and How to Use Them

10. 8. Chapter Summary • Found at the end of the chapter • Reviews key concepts • May be in the form of a paragraph or a list • Excellent resource to use as a preview or a review Textbook Learning Aids and How to Use Them

11. 9. Glossary • Usually found at the end of the book • Mini-dictionary that lists important vocabulary alphabetically • Faster and more convenient than a dictionary • Doesn’t provide all the meanings of a word, just the meaning used in the textbook Textbook Learning Aids and How to Use Them

12. 10. Index • Alphabetical listing of all the topics in the textbook • Names of authors, titles of texts and/or readings • Page number where the word is used • Good idea when doing review work. Find the key word in the sentence, then find that word in the index. Textbook Learning Aids and How to Use Them