To be an efficient reader, you should read with a PURPOSE.
This means that you should determine WHY you're reading the text, and what you'll be asked to do with the information in that text.
For example:
- will have a quiz on vocabulary the next day?
- will you be assessed on your understanding of "big ideas" in the text?
- will you discuss what you read in class the next day?
- will you be asked to write a paper on the topic?
- will you need general background knowledge on this topic, as a jumping-off point for further study?
- will you later need to answer questions about the reading?
- will you need to match the people mentioned in the text, to certain dates or events?
By first determining your purpose, you'll then be able to decide what you should be paying the most attention to while reading.
For example:
- if you know you will be assessed on how well you know the vocabulary in the text, you would pay closest attention to that vocabulary (which may be bolded or highlighted in some texts).
- if you know you'll have to discuss the text in class the next day, you would benefit from thinking about major questions the text brings up, or how you'd summarize what you read.
- if you know you'll have to answer questions about the text, you could preview those questions so that you're looking for the answers while reading.
Once you have an idea of your purpose for reading, you can adapt your reading strategy to fit that purpose. For additional pre- and during-reading strategies and tips, check out some of the other posts on this blog, like this one, this one, or this one.
