Build reading skills, a crucial skill that helps us grasp and use information. There is a misconception that one is a good reader if they have read many books. However, what’s important is how you perceive and interpret the information you’ve just read. Master the skill of reading with practice and some smart techniques. Here are some strategies you can explore to become an effective reader.
1. Get an Overview
Preview your text before you begin reading. This is a great way to read efficiently as it gives the reader a sense of what’s cooking in the book beforehand. Previewing gives a general overview of whether the content in a book or an article is useful enough for you or not. It helps locate sections that you find necessary to read and build effective reading habits.
How to preview?
2. Skim for an Overall Picture
Skimming is helpful when you’re hard-pressed for time. It is a strategy where you can scan through the text and note down important information. This technique helps you pick up the central ideas in a book or article with ease. Think of skimming as a level-up over previewing.
How to skim?
3. Scan to Discover Specific Information
Want to enhance your speed while reading? Then you should try scanning your material. The idea is to read with a purpose. For instance, what do you do if you are going through your study material and need a quick look at a formula? You look for the topic in which the said formula appears. This technique saves time and energy while also being practical.
How to scan through information?
4. Build the Skill of Intensive Reading
Intensive reading is all about the details. It requires the reader to be focused on understanding and remembering the information. Intensive reading is useful when you’re approaching a topic for the first time.
How to read intensively?
BONUS: Reading Tips for Effective Reading
It doesn’t matter how many books you read. What matters is how much information you’ve grasped. The key is to be flexible and use techniques that help you enjoy the process and also enable you to learn something new.