Improving Reading Comprehension
Reading is all about getting information. The key aspect of improved reading comprehension is not about moving your eyes across a page; it is also about producing a mental framework, which helps you to process expressions and thoughts. It is not about the number of words you read, but the amount of information you get from them. The capability to understand and remember reading material is significant for success in day-to-day life. With a little bit of practice and hard work, you can master the art of reading in a more productive way. If you are not aware of a specific subject, then mugging up things would barely help. So, you can get engaged in numerous reading comprehension methods to develop a greater expertise in reading and enjoying magazines, books and newspapers. To read effectively, you need to develop interest in the subject, focus on the material you read and build up a disciplined approach. The steps mentioned below will help you to extort the maximum amount of information in the slightest amount of time.
The Pre-Reading Assessment
Almost all the comprehension courses suggest doing a pre-reading analysis or assessment. The purpose of this analysis is to get a better perception of the content as well as the structure of the material. You will be surprised how people end up reading a whole book only to find that the information they require is not present in it. Pre-assessment or analysis helps in making your reading more efficient as it creates a mental map. You can start a book by reading the table of contents and the first page of introduction. Then, you can flip through the material by reading only chapter titles, headings and bold face print. You need not worry about remembering anything specific; the purpose is only to get a general impression. The entire procedure should not take more than 5 minutes. This will enable you to understand the layout of the book and the location of different topics. If you are interested only in one section, you will know where to find it.
Keep Yourself Up-To-Date With The Current Events
Always remember to keep yourself updated with information on the contemporary events by reading newspapers, magazines, books and online publications. Developing an interest in the world and people that surrounds you helps you to generate a greater comprehension in the material, which you read.
Define Your Purpose
Once pre-assessment is done, you get a general awareness of the material. Then you must define the purpose. However, there are cases when readers will have varied objectives. If you do not define the objective, you are likely to be bogged down by unnecessary sections or there are chances that crucial points may go ignored. By clarifying what you really need to know, you will be able to distinguish the important ones from the irrelevant sections. This helps you to assign the attention accordingly.
Create Questions The reading Should Answer
In addition to the generic purpose, it will be helpful if you note down the questions for which you need the answer. This enables you to focus on a set of objectives and provides you a way to assess comprehension. By noting down the questions, you will get a set of mental reminders. Once you spot an important keyword in the text, you will be aware of the question it relates to and will start looking for an answer.
Study New Words To Expand Reading Comprehension
Once you read, make note of unfamiliar words or phrases so that its meanings can be looked into in the dictionaries. You can jot definitions, which will help you to remember the definition much more than by typing or by reading alone.
Take Notes Or Highlight Important Concepts
The best way to implant something in the memory is to note it down. Once you go through an important point, make a note of it in a piece of paper inside a margin or use a highlighter. This helps you to remember what you read and easy to find the important sections when you evaluate the text.
The Post-Reading Review
After you finish the reading, you must determine what you learned. You must ask questions regarding achieving the goal. You can try to find answers for these questions; if you are unable to find them, you can go back and look for answers near your notes to recall the information. You will understand what you have learned, what you have not and whether you should go deeper into the text and look for other sources. You should also jot down the main points such as idea and the characters in the story. This will give you a deeper insight into the topic. If you find the expressive writing difficult, jot shorter notes and discuss it with a friend or parent.
Summarize The Text
Summarize the material. Write a short version of what you have just read, highlighting the main points, opinions, and conclusions. This will help reinforce general comprehension of the information.
Carry A Dictionary
You can carry a dictionary or refer to an online dictionary. If you are confused by a certain word, you can refer to it. By this, you will develop appreciation and better comprehension of the material, when you look for the meaning of these words. Therefore, make sure you make it a habit to look for words whose meaning is unclear or you do not understand.
To develop and improve the reading comprehension techniques, you need to be motivated, develop creative teaching techniques, generate a proper learning environment and have a constructive feedback. Reading comprehension is a skill, which is essential in the present society, and it must be developed.
