1.1: Active Reading

The reading you do in college differs from what you did in high school where you read for comprehension. You may have needed to learn information for a test or to write a paper, and you likely accepted what you read without question. We call this passive reading.

In college, however, you will be asked to read a variety of texts. Besides textbooks, you may read periodicals, government reports, or academic articles. When you read these things, you will need to consider, then question, what is being said. Then you may be asked research, write, or synthesize information to create new ideas. Before you begin these tasks, you need to engage with what you read, and the best way to do this is to read actively. Active reading is exactly what it sounds like; you are active, doing things, as you read.

Note the difference between passive and active reading side by side in this chart.

                         Passive reading                                                                                     Active reading                                                   

Reading quickly to get it done.	Setting aside a time and place to read.
Reading without preparation.	Pre-reading by skimming and scanning.
Reading for comprehension only.	Uses strategies to understand subtext along with comprehension.
Having to repeat reading due to lost focus.	Maintaining focus through annotating.
Taking notes without discernment.	Taking notes with purpose.
Needing to repeat later because of forgotten content.	Summarizing when finished to retain and use information.

 Effective reading, like writing, is a process. The following is a general overview of the reading process.

Steps in the reading process:

Before you begin, create a reading space. Find a place that is comfortable and free of distractions. Many people claim they can multitask. However, academic studies find that phones and noise increase distractions and decrease concentration. A consistent study place signals your brain that it is time to work, which will help you focus on your task.

Plan time to read. We are all very busy, so look through your schedule and carve out time just for reading.

Step 1: Pre-read

· Skim through the text to get an idea of the content.

· Note headings or sections.

· Break the reading into smaller sections to make the process easier.

· Scan the text for any highlighted or bolded words. Look up new vocabulary.

Step 2: Read.

· As you read, annotate your text as you go along. Annotating includes underlining, marking, adding definitions or notes, and writing in the margins. 

Create a system that you will use every time you read. You can...

• Develop abbreviations or symbols to help such as ! for something important.
• Divide the content into smaller chunks to avoid overwhelm. Write short summaries as you complete them.
• Circle important ideas, arguments, and vocabulary.
• Underline or highlight sparingly. 
• Look up unfamiliar words or concepts. Write the definition above the word.
• Write difficult concepts in your own words to be sure you understand.
• Write questions in the margins.
• Converse with the author. Use margins to make comments, ask questions, argue.
• If you are reading online, use highlight and comment tools. 
• Take notes. Try different methods until you find one that works for you.

Methods for taking notes.

Mind mapping. Start with a key concept described in heading or opening sentences. Draw lines to show connections, branching off as you encounter information. See Fig. 1 below.

Outlining. Similar idea to mind mapping, but using an outline format. See figure 2.

Cornell method. Draw a vertical line 1/3 of the way from the left. Take notes on the right side of the line. Record corresponding vocabulary or key ideas on the left. Summarize at the bottom.

Listing or a table. You will organize information into columns. Put the key ideas at the top. Add information, definition, or related ideas underneath.

Figure 1                                                         Figure 2 

     

Step 3: Post read.

· Review your notes.

· Write a summary or summaries of smaller sections. This helps you with understanding and retention.

There are more specific strategies you can adopt to read and understand a text. You should try different strategies until you find one that works for you. You want strategies that are efficient and useful, so feel free to adjust them to your liking. 

 

Writing Summaries

How to write a summary:

1. Read the text you want to summarize.

2. If it is a long text, break it up into more manageable parts.

3. Read the text again using your active reading strategy.

4. Write what you remember. Use your own words.

5. Review the text and your summary to check for missing information.

Additional Resources

 This article from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill contains more ideas and some examples. Linked here: annotation

Here are some note-taking-strategies from Washington State St. Louis linked here: Note-taking strategies

Here two handouts from Washington University, St. Louis that may help with annotating and taking notes. Linked here: Active Reading Strategies

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Works Cited

"Annotations." The Learning Center. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, unc.edu, https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/annotating-texts/

"Note Taking Strategies." Center for Teaching and Learning. Washington University St. Louis, wustl.edu,

https://ctl.wustl.edu/learningcenter/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Note-Taking_TLC_2024.pdf

"Strategies for College Reading." Center for Teaching and Learning. Washington University St. Louis, wustl.edu,

https://ctl.wustl.edu/learningcenter/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Reading-Strategies_TLC_2020.pdf

Media Attribution

Matthews, Connie, Elizabeth Stein, and Mary Elizabeth Wilson-Patton. Active Writing for ESL,  

https://human.libretexts.org/Courses/Nashville_State_Community_College/Academic_Writing_for_ESL_Students/02%3A_Paragraph_Review_and_Sentence_Types/2.16%3

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