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Reading at Erikson: The readings are the assignment!
Understanding the importance of reading assignments while a student at Erikson is a key to your success. Though there is nothing to “turn in” to the instructor, reading everything that is assigned for the week is essential to your ability to understand the content that will be discussed in class and to writing a clear, coherent, and comprehensive paper. Your goal is to be a successful learner. Reading the assigned material is an important and necessary step to reaching this goal.
Once you have gained access to your course syllabus, it is time to get ready to read! After purchasing the required reading materials for the course, you will need to decide how you will read the assigned readings for each week. Erikson students typically choose between printing articles for the semester or saving articles to their computers. Consider your preference for reading and understanding materials. If you are able to read easily on digital devices, saving articles may be a good option. If you prefer to hold the reading in your hand, printing may be the better choice for you.
Whichever method you choose, it is highly recommended that you gather all the readings for the semester and have them ready before the course starts. Organization of your reading materials is a critical first step in getting ready to read and setting yourself up for success during the semester. Many students organize their readings by each week and create a system using digital folders or binders with tabs to easily access readings throughout the semester.
The Study Strategies page provides for additional information creating schedules and time management to help you prepare for reading.
See the handout below for additional ideas on how you can prepare yourself before reading.
Why are you sitting down to read this reading? Weekly readings are required for a course; readings may be referred to in class discussions, and they provide necessary information that you will need to fully understand your instructor’s presentation. Use weekly readings to develop your understanding of main ideas and to identify any questions that might be addressed in class.
Many of the assigned readings will be used (and cited) as sources of information in your written assignments. In addition to reading in order to understand main ideas during your weekly classes, you will need to make note of relevant concepts that you may need to easily reference when you write your paper. It is important to develop a note-taking system that works for you—one that allows you to have a shorthand version, cheat sheet, or cover letter that accompanies each reading, so that when it comes time to write your paper, you do not have to go back into the article. Rather, your notes should provide you with easy access to key concepts from the many theorists you will encounter in your graduate studies.
Some readings require a different approach. For instance, a research article may not require as in-depth of reading as a theoretical article. Skimming the research article and focusing on the methods and results sections may be appropriate for this type of reading assignment.
The next two sections share information about reading to understand and reading to inform your writing. Both areas are necessary for being a successful student in graduate school.
See the link on the left for some tips about connecting concepts to professional practice.
Here are some tips to help you prepare for engaging in class discussions: