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Active Reading |
In this module you will learn about active reading skills. These skills will help you to recall and apply information you obtain through printed text. Active reading has many benefits. First and foremost, it gets you involved in the material through previewing, reading, and reviewing.
When you read to collect data and retain information, active reading skills act as a catalyst for critical thinking skills that must be applied in a systematic way. This differs from reading something passively, which is typically what people do when reading merely for entertainment.
Active reading will help you think critically. Formulating questions about what you have read leads to analyzing purposes and assumptions. What is the intent or agenda of the author and his or her point of view? Ultimately, this process helps you to understand and retain what you read and assists you in mastering academic reading. This mastery leads to a successful college experience. These skills will also serve you well in your future profession.
Activity 1:
Think of your own needs and the benefits of active reading skills. Type your answers to the following questions using the "My notes" tool on the right side of the tool bar at the top of the page.
Any time you seek information through active reading, you are applying critical thinking skills to collect data and process the information for retention. In essence, the process used in active reading is similar to conducting an interview. The difference is that you will be conducting an interview with yourself as you interact with the textual materials.
Properly applied, active reading skills will enable you to recall and apply information you read. As you begin to apply active reading skills, even when just reading for entertainment, you may find your experience is richer.
The overall goal of this module is to introduce you to active reading. When you have completed this module you should be able to:
- Describe active reading skills and their importance.
- Reflect upon and self-assess your current use of active reading skills.
- Engage in and apply active reading skills.
- Identify strategies for taking notes and underlining in readings.
Read the information about Active Reading and complete activities 2-9. (File will open in a new window.)
Then, read these tips sheets and complete the accompanying activities:
Activity 10:
Underlining text in a textbook - tip sheet and quiz
Activity 11:
Increasing reading speed and effectiveness - tip sheet
Activity 12:
Taking notes while reading - tip sheet and quiz
The materials for the iStudy for Success modules were originally developed at the Jack P. Royer Center for Learning and Academic Technologies.
Additional materials were developed and assistance was provided by the University Learning Centers (ULC), University Park.
The ANGEL version of the modules is being administered by Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT), a unit of Information Technology Services.
For more information about iStudy for Success modules, please contact tlt@psu.edu
The Pennsylvania State University ©2004 All rights reserved. Please read the entire license agreement before distributing the modules, and before modifying and sharing the content of the modules. This statement MUST accompany this module and all derivative works.