Strategies for Reading Comprehension and Note-Taking

1. Welcome to Unit 5 Seminar Robert Sullivan Academic Strategies for the Business Professional

2. Agenda • Unit 4 Summary • Unit 5 Prelude • Seminar Case History • Reading Strategies • Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension • Note-taking Strategies • Questions

3. As a recap, In Unit Four you understood the importance of critical thinking and applied critical thinking strategies to online research. There was a Discussion Board worth 50pts and an Assignment (Research and Evaluation of Sources) worth 60pts associated with this unit. Unit Four Summary

4. Unit Five Prelude • In Unit Five you will Explore tips and strategies for improving reading comprehension and note taking strategies, read material using the scan, read, interpret method and explore two areas of the LASSI modules to learn personal improvement strategies. • There is a Discussion Board worth 50pts and an Assignment (Taking notes on LASSI Modules) worth 60pts associated with this unit.

5. Seminar Case History Did anyone have a chance to view/read the Seminar Case History for Unit Five?

6. Seminar Case History Did anyone have a chance to view/read the Seminar Case History for Unit Six? Basically the Case History stated, Janice knows that college will mean she must do quite a bit of reading and some note-taking. She has never had very good concentration for reading things other than magazines for pleasure and hasn’t taken notes in a very long time. But Janice is determined to do well in school and be a positive role model for her family.

7. Seminar Case History How can Janice improve her concentration while reading?

8. Seminar Case History How can Janice improve her concentration while reading? How can a reading method help Janice understand the material better?

9. Seminar Case History How can Janice improve her concentration while reading? How can a reading method help Janice understand the material better? What kinds of note-taking might Janice use for various assignments and projects?

10. Reading Strategies Reading comprehension is our ability to understand and remember the material we read, and it is a skill that weakens if it’s not used. For that reason, we need to learn the process involved in reading comprehension and consciously apply it.

11. Reading Strategies Three major factors in reading success are:

12. Reading Strategies Three major factors in reading success are: Motivation -- can be found in just wanting to learn, to get a good grade on a test or project, or to complete the course and keep moving towards our career goals.   This is different from reading for pleasure or other motivation.

13. Reading Strategies Three major factors in reading success are: Concentration -- may involve choosing the right location or time of day in order to be able to focus on what we are reading - this takes time management, of course, and may involve taking breaks or scheduling specific amounts of time to avoid fatigue. It also takes practice to be able to concentrate on the content of what we are reading.

14. Reading Strategies Three major factors in reading success are: Concentration -- may involve choosing the right location or time of day in order to be able to focus on what we are reading - this takes time management, of course, and may involve taking breaks or scheduling specific amounts of time to avoid fatigue. It also takes practice to be able to concentrate on the content of what we are reading. This can be one of the most difficult attributes of the reading process in my opinion. What do you think?

15. Reading Strategies Three major factors in reading success are: The third factor is Effective Reading Strategies -- help the reader to become fully involved in the process and think critically. Being thorough and methodical in your approach to difficult reading can help you learn, concentrate, and retain the information as well as make the best use of your time.

16. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Highlight what you think is most important:

17. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Highlight what you think is most important: If you want to fully understand what you are reading, reading it once is not enough. Highlight the main ideas and review them after you have read the entire piece.

18. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Highlight what you think is most important: If you want to fully understand what you are reading, reading it once is not enough. Highlight the main ideas and review them after you have read the entire piece. How many of you practice this method?

19. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Broaden your background:

20. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Broaden your background: Read newspapers, magazines, books, and professional journals. Become interested in current events, particularly those happening within your career field. This will help you build a stronger mental framework for ideas and concepts.

21. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Create motivation and interest:  

22. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Create motivation and interest:   Discuss ideas with your friends, family, coworkers, and classmates. The stronger your interest in the subject, the greater your comprehension will be.

23. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Strengthen your vocabulary:

24. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Strengthen your vocabulary: Building your vocabulary is a long process, not an event that happens overnight. However, the more you know about the language, the more you will understand. Keep a dictionary handy and look up words that are not familiar, and consider keeping a log of professional vocabulary words so you don’t have to look these up a second time!

25. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Have a Reading Method:

26. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Have a Reading Method: A reading method can greatly enhance your understanding when the material you are trying to understand seems difficult.

27. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Have a Reading Method: A reading method can greatly enhance your understanding when the material you are trying to understand seems difficult. A method is a structured way to organize your time and the material in your head (and perhaps in notes) as you complete the reading assignment.

28. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Have a Reading Method: The first step would be to have a Pre-Reading Strategy: you need to first determine your purpose for reading.   Are you reading for pleasure?   If so, you probably don’t need a “method” because the information you gather while reading for pleasure is only used for entertainment.  

29. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Have a Reading Method: Are you reading to gain knowledge to help you complete an assignment?   If so, having a method will help you structure the information of your reading so that you can apply it appropriately to your assignments.  

30. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension First SCAN your material:

31. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension First SCAN your material: How is the information structured? Look for items that may be highlighted with color or appear in different type. Look for main headings, check out graphics and illustrations, and get a general sense of what is in the reading assignment. Think of questions you would like to have answered when you begin reading the material.

32. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension First SCAN your material: Scanning helps you focus your attention on the things that you need to gain from your reading. You can also then decide how you want to approach your reading.   Do you need to chunk your reading into small bits and read each part at different times, or do you have the time to read your assignment all at once?  

33. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Next, READ your material:

34. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Next, READ your material: Start at the beginning and read. Look for main ideas and the details that support them. Look for keywords and ask yourself who, what, when, where, why, and how. Don’t just read words; be a reading detective!

35. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Next, READ your material: Find an appropriate reading speed (not too fast and not too slow). Of course, find a relatively comfortable place with good lighting and few distractions. Consider taking notes – you’ll read more about note taking in this unit.

36. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Next, READ your material: The way in which you approach your reading can determine how successful you are in remembering what you read.   Having a method in which you know your reading purpose, scan the material, and keep your concentration, makes you have an active role in your reading.   You will find that you learn the information better when you have a method that works for you.

37. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Finally, INTERPRET your material:

38. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension Finally, INTERPRET your material: Once you have actively read the assignment, take another look at it. (This part can be considered “post-reading strategies”).   Did you learn what you set out to learn?   Check the main headings, the keywords, and the other items you scanned before you started the reading – does it all now fit into place?   If something didn’t make sense, go back and read that part again.  

39. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension VERY IMPORTANTLY -- Repeat back to yourself what you learned - can you summarize it?   Could you teach it to someone else? How does it fit with what you already know? Think about how you might use this information in the future.   Does it change your perspective or present information that is different than what you had known before?

40. Strategies & Tips for Reading Comprehension VERY IMPORTANTLY -- Repeat back to yourself what you learned - can you summarize it?   Could you teach it to someone else? How does it fit with what you already know? Think about how you might use this information in the future.   Does it change your perspective or present information that is different than what you had known before? Any questions about having a Reading Method?

41. Note-taking Strategies Choosing a note-taking method that corresponds with your personal learning style can help you study more effectively.

42. Note-taking Strategies Visual learners benefit from seeing the important information by itself; auditory learners benefit from reading their notes aloud to themselves; and kinesthetic learners benefit from the activity of writing, highlighting, or typing their notes. Studying more efficiently means saving time and energy, which can also result in stress reduction.

43. Note-taking Strategies In your reading, the Cornell System includes dividing the page into three main sections by the drawing of an upside-down T.  The left column is for “cues” or major topics.   The right column is to accommodate details related to the cues.   A section across the bottom of the page is meant for a short summary of the page, or perhaps to hold source information. Cornell: Cornell notes are easy to create and easy to use for studying.   They can also be used for taking notes at meetings or organizing information at work.

44. Note-taking Strategies Mapping is a visual representation of the information, showing relationships by the use of shapes, arrows, and lines.   Taking notes in this style requires an understanding of these relationships before beginning to write, but the visual appeal may be helpful in memorizing certain kinds of information.

45. Note-taking Strategies Some information, such as timelines and comparisons, can easily be placed into a chart.   On the computer, this can be accomplished by using tables in Word or by using Excel.

46. Note-taking Strategies And finally, Outlining is a method which focuses on main points, sub-points and supporting details.  The information in the main heading is general, and the sub-headings are more specific.

47. Note-taking Strategies And finally, Outlining is a method which focuses on main points, sub-points and supporting details.  The information in the main heading is general, and the sub-headings are more specific. Any questions about Note-Taking Strategies?

48. Questions? Thank you for attending!