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Lesson 1 Reading Process and Strategies

This document provides an introduction to effective reading strategies and skills. It defines reading as a cognitive process of decoding symbols to derive meaning from a text. Some key reading strategies discussed include getting an overview of the text through previewing, skimming and scanning. Using context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words is also covered. Finally, the document discusses understanding the difference between a word's denotation and connotation.

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Reyes Erica
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942 views

Lesson 1 Reading Process and Strategies

This document provides an introduction to effective reading strategies and skills. It defines reading as a cognitive process of decoding symbols to derive meaning from a text. Some key reading strategies discussed include getting an overview of the text through previewing, skimming and scanning. Using context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words is also covered. Finally, the document discusses understanding the difference between a word's denotation and connotation.

Uploaded by

Reyes Erica
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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RIZAL COLLEGE OF TAAL

Taal, Batangas

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

READING AND WRITING SKILLS

Quarter 3 – Lesson 1:
INTRODUCTION TO THE READING
PROCESS AND READING STRATEGIES

STUDY GUIDE
Lesson Introduction to the Reading Process
1 and Reading Strategies

Defining Reading

What is reading? Reading is defined as a cognitive process of decoding symbols


in order to derive meaning from a text. It is always an interaction between the text and the
reader. We read in order to gain and share information and ideas, whether for academic,
personal, or professional purposes.
Reading is also a skill that can be improved through consistent practice. In order to
comprehend the text, we apply many skills simultaneously while we read: Identifying the
author’s purpose, grasping the main ideas of the text, locating important details, using context
clues to understand unfamiliar words, answering specific questions, analyzing the text’s points,
and critiquing the text. These, and more, are some of the strategies that we can use to help us
become better readers.

Effective Reading Strategies

 Getting an overview of the text

At times, it may be a good idea to survey the text as a whole before delving deeper into
each part. Whenever you want to get the gist of the text’s content, you use previewing,
skimming, and scanning.

1. Previewing
Previewing means looking at the readily visible parts of the text, like titles and subtitles,
and also visuals and graphs, pictures and charts. Previewing familiarizes you with the
contents of selection, and focuses on the important information in the text. In order to
preview the text properly, you must first identify your purpose for reading. Next, examine
the titles and subtitles of the text. Afterward, browse the introduction and conclusion of the
text. Finally, look at the visual elements of text. Take note of the things that interest you to
better understand the text later.
2. Skimming and Scanning
Skimming the text means you look for the main point of the reading and identify the
ideas that develop it. Skimming effectively means physically moving your eyes rapidly along
the page and tracing your finger along the lines of the text to speed up your reading. This
skill also involves quickly going through beginning and concluding sentences of paragraphs
because these usually talk about the topic of the text.

Meanwhile, scanning the reading is looking for specific information. In order to scan the
text effectively, you need to have an idea of the details you are looking for. The instruction of
your teacher or questions about the text may help you in knowing what to scan for. This
strategy also involves physically moving your eyes quickly along the lines of text. You do not
have to read every word; just read until you locate the details you are searching for. Scanning
the text is especially useful when doing research or taking examinations.

 Using Context Clues


One technique to improve your reading comprehension and reading pace is
using context clues. Context clues are words, phrases, and sentences that surround an
unfamiliar word. They can help you recognize the meaning of an unknown word
because the text gives you information about it. Thus, you can study how a word is used
in a sentence and discover an approximate definition. Getting the meaning of unfamiliar
words through context clues is a useful process because this allows you to read more
fluently and increases your vocabulary.

The most common types of context clues are synonyms, antonyms, examples,
explanations, definitions, and situations.

1. Synonyms
Synonyms are used when the text has words or phrases that are similar in
meaning to the unknown word. Though their meanings are similar, they are not exactly
the same because a word may have different associations with it. Synonym clues may be
signalled by the following words: “like” or “as”.
2. Antonym
An antonym is a word that reveals the opposite meaning in relation to the
unknown word. When you see words like “although”, “but”, “despite”, “instead”, “in
contrast”, “unlike”, “however”, “even though”, “on the contrary”, and “conversely”,
these usually precede antonyms because these are used to show contrasting ideas.
3. Examples
Examples are specific details in a text that are used to clarify the meaning of a
word.
4. Explanations and Definitions
Explanations may be given as clues to describe an unknown term. When phrases
like “because” or “that is” follow a word, these may be explanations. Meanwhile,
definitions may follow an unfamiliar word. Terms like “is”, “means”, “is defined as”, and
“refers to” are used with definitions.
5. Situations
The situation in which a word is used can also be helpful in determining the
meaning of that word. The meaning of a word may change depending on its context, or
how and where it is used.

 Using Connotation and Denotation


Another way of improving your comprehension of s text is trying to understand
different meanings that particular words can have. As you have seen so far, words only
make sense to us if we understand what they mean. Two ways of describing the
meaning of a word are called denotation and connotation. Denotation is the basic,
precise, literal meaning of the word that can be found in a dictionary. Connotation,
meanwhile, is defined as the positive, negative, or neutral feelings, attitudes, ideas, or
associations with a word. These shades of meaning are affected by social; overtones,
emotional meaning, or cultural implications.
To illustrate the difference between denotation and connotation, compare the
following meanings of the words “father” and “daddy”.

Father
Denotation: a male parent
Connotation: -association: positive
-feelings: love and respect

Daddy
Denotation: a male parent
Connotation: -association: positive
-feelings: love, familiarity, childhood

The Denotations of “father” and “daddy” are synonymous because they both pertain to
a male parent. However, denotations do not reveal the individual responses of people to a
word. “Daddy” is more connotative than “father”, even though they denote the same thing
because many children have fond memories of their fathers. Of course, this does not discount
that each reader has a different relationship with his/her father. Two words may have the same
definition, but can have different emotional content.

Connotations, therefore, portray more multi-faceted definitions of a word whether


these are positive, negative, or neutral. Positive connotations are generally favourable
associations towards a word. Negative connotations, meanwhile, tend more unfavourable
feelings or ideas toward a word. Neutral connotations bring up impartial associations toward a
word.

Let us apply these to the following example: Compare the association with the words
“house”, “home”, and “shanty”. All of these denote places where people live. Which of these
connotations is positive? Negative? Neutral? A “house” has a neutral connotation because it is
a “building in which someone lives”. A “home” has a more positive connotation because it
brings to mind “a place of warmth and comfort and familiarity”. Finally, a “shanty” has a
negative connotation because it is associated with poverty; it is a “small”, crudely built shack”.

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