Academic Success Center

Planning

Some find it useful to break up readings in chunks. Set a goal for what reading you wish to tackle before starting. Keep in mind that there are many note-taking or annotating methods you can try out (check out the links below for more help). Decide what works best for you and get your materials ready. 

Organize

Find your purpose for reading a certain text by answering the following questions:

• Is there a reason I need or want to read this text?
• What is the weekly class topic?
• How does this text relate to the weekly assignments for my course(s)? 

Prepare

Skim over the text to get a feel for what you will be reading. 

Pro-Tip: pre-read the abstract and conclusion sections (if available) before you read top to bottom, so you can get a preview of what is to come. 

Ask Questions as You Read

Questioning the text helps you actively engage with the content in front of you. Asking questions can also keep you focused on the purpose of reading a specific source while sparking interest. Do this by:

• Reframing text headings into questions
• Asking the 5 Ws; Who, What, When, Where, Why?
• Write these questions down as part of your note-taking to refer to later

Read Further

When you're ready, sit down to read your text in full. Find a comfortable place, where you feel productive and able to focus. 

• Write any questions you might have as you are reading
• Annotate, take notes, and highlight (Click here for helpful tips) 
• Look up words that you do not understand or are unsure about
• Jump outside of the text to find other related sources on the topic 

Recite

Putting the text into your own words is one of the most helpful steps to comprehend and retain information. 

• Summarize a text one paragraph or section at a time
• Write or say it out loud in your own words
• Connect what you learned from the text to your own experiences. How might this apply to your professional field?
• Are there any contradicting experiences or evidence that can reframe the text for you?