Cornerstones for Career College Success

3rd edition

Topic: Reading Comprehension

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

Top Academic Problems

College math courses

and

Reading comprehension

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

Ingredients for Successful Reading

• The material you are reading• Pens or pencils and a highlighter• Paper for taking notes• A dictionary (traditional or online)• Time devoted exclusively to reading• An open mind

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

Active v. Passive Reading

• Active readers approach assignments with a positive, open mind and say “I’m going to learn from this!”

• Passive readers have a negative attitude about reading: “This stuff is worthless!”

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

How Long Will It Take?

• Calculate your raw reading speed

• Average reading speed is 250 words/minute

• Average textbook page has 450 words

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

Are You a Logodaedalian?

• Develop a dynamic vocabulary by reading

• Look up unfamiliar words in a collegiate or online dictionary

• Jot down the best definition in the margin of your text

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

Improve Speed and Comprehension

• Increase your concentration– Reduce distractions– Set a schedule with breaks– Take notes as you read

• Reduce your fixations– Average reader sees 2.5 words per eye movement

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

Reading Online Material

• Set a schedule with breaks• Survey entire site first• Copy/paste to enlarge as needed• Use online sticky notes or highlighters to mark• Take notes as you read• Use text-to-speech program to convert

written word into aural presentation

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

Get to the Point!

• The topic is the subject of the paragraph

• Many paragraphs will not have a specific topic sentence

• Ask “Who or what is this paragraph about?” to find the main idea

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

A Plan for Active Reading: SQ3R

• S = Scan• Q = Question• R = Read• R = Recite• R = Review

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

SQ3R - Scanning

• Read the title, headings, and subheadings

• Look at bold terms and graphic material

• Read chapter summary

• Read first and last sentence of each paragraph

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

SQ3R - Questioning

• Turn major chapter headings into questions

• Ask “Who? When? What? Where? Why?”

• Answer questions after reading

• If you can’t answer these, reread!

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

SQ3R - Reading

• Read an entire paragraph before marking• Identify and mark the main point• Highlight key ideas• Beware of overmarking text• Stop to look up unfamiliar words• Take notes while you read

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

SQ3R - Reciting

• After reading, ask “What was that all about?”

• Explain aloud what you read

• Recite alone or with a study partner

• Reread if you can’t recite!

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

SQ3R - Reviewing

• Final step for comprehension

• Survey and read text again

• Answer questions you developed

• Stores the information

©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013) Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career

College Success, 3e

Topic Reflections

• Approach text with an open mind• Free your mind to focus• Read with necessary materials• Look up words you don’t know• Record vocabulary words to review• Use SQ3R• Seek assistance if you are having trouble• The more you use your reading skills, the better

you’ll become at reading and comprehending©Pearson Education, Inc. (2013)

Sherfield/Moody, Cornerstones for Career College Success, 3e