Information about Active Reading

 

Student Dialog - Active Reading

Deena, Jose, and Sage talking. Deena: Hey, how is everyone doing today? Is everyone getting through the data okay?

Jose: Okay.

Deena: Sage, is something wrong? You haven't said anything.

Sage: There is something I want to ask the group. It seems like the more reading I do, the more difficult it is to remember what I've read, let alone fully understand it. I'm not sure whether it's just me.

Jose: I don't think it's you. In what way does it seem more difficult, Sage?

Sage: You know, I really used to enjoy reading. It always relaxed me. But, now I seem to get frustrated and stressed, even when I read a romance novel.

Jose: Reading a romance book would frustrate me too. I'd sooner read a philosophy text.

Deena: Hey, Jose, some romances are really good books. Have you ever read Gone with the Wind? I think I know what Sage means about a good book being a stress reliever.

Sage: I know, I know. To me, it's kind of like an anytime/anywhere movie in my mind.

 

When you are reading to collect data and retain information, critical thinking skills should be applied in a systematic way. This is different than passively reading something merely for entertainment in which the story unfolds like a movie in your mind. As you begin to apply active reading skills to reading for entertainment, you may find the movie in your mind becomes more enriched. Properly applied active reading skills will better enable you to recall and apply information you read.

 


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