Activity 3: What problems do you have when reading academic assignments?

 

Take a minute to think about what you do when you read.

  • What techniques do you find most useful during reading?
  • What are the most common problems you have with reading for academic assignments?
  • How can you improve your skills while reading as an active reader?

 


Student Dialog - Reviewing

Deena: Well, don't forget we need to review what we read after we finish reading. So far we have covered previewing the text, thinking about the information we are reading in context, and activities to do when reading the text.

Jose: So, are we closing in on the finish line?

Deena: Yes. What we want to do next is to review the text, especially those things that challenge our attitude about something, our beliefs, or responses to current issues, and to look for patterns among these things.

Sage: How do we organize this?

Deena: You may want to outline themes and summarize sections. We could look for the critical links in the patterns.

Sage: To me, outlining means distinguishing between main ideas and supporting ideas, consolidating examples, and then writing them down.

Deena: Condensing and putting things into your own words and ideas helps accomplish the review process. Keep in mind that when you summarize, you also want to test the credibility, logic, and emotion of what you have read into it.

Jose: Okay, so if I felt like it wasn't true or valid I should challenge it?

Deena: That's right. The author will make an argument for an opinion or belief, but their conclusions may not be the same as yours. What works for someone else may not be appropriate for you.

Sage: So, active reading is like having a conversation with the author who could be in front of us in the classroom or in print.

Deena: Very good, Sage. But don't forget that you are also having a continuous interview with yourself.

Jose: So, I think we've pretty much covered what to do when reviewing. You definitely have the idea about active reading.

Deena: But, remember that the important idea is going through the process and getting as much as you can from the written information.

 

Cartoon of Deena, Jose and Sage talking. Read the dialog above the cartoon.

Cartoon of Deena, Jose and Sage talking. Read the dialog above the cartoon.

Cartoon of Deena, Jose and Sage talking. Read the dialog above the cartoon.

Cartoon of Deena, Jose and Sage talking. Read the dialog above the cartoon.

Cartoon of Deena, Jose and Sage talking. Read the dialog above the cartoon.

Cartoon of Deena, Jose and Sage talking. Read the dialog above the cartoon.

 

Reviewing will refine your mental organization and begin building memory. Here are some tips for "Reviewing," the fifth step in active reading.

 


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