TYPES OF READING

The type of reading style we may adopt in our reading is determined by the purpose for which
we are reading. Reading types include:

a) Scanning: This style of reading is used when we are looking for specific information in a text,
newspaper or other document. Such information may be a name, a date, a figure, a statistic etc.
When scanning, the reader moves his/ her eyes quickly over a page to get the specific
information needed. During this type of reading you should ensure the following.

 You should be having the correct text and you should be sure of the information you are
looking for.
 Determine the text's structure or organization style, i.e., cues or indications that might
help you grasp the text pattern. Avoid focussing on details and scan the text with speed
as you look for the specific information.
b) Skimming: This reading technique is employed when you want to get the general
information or to get a grasp what a text is all about. Skimming technique is useful when:

i. Trying to figure out if a book in the library is relevant to your study.

ii. Previewing books or texts before detailed reading.

iii. Refreshing your understanding of a text after you have read it in detail.

You can skim:

 The first/ Introductory paragraph

 Concluding paragraph
 Transitional paragraph
 Subheadings
 Italicized, underlined and boldfaced items
c) Light reading/ Recreational reading: a popular type of reading where the reader does not
attempt to digest all the material or make any critical analysis. It is fast and superficial and is not
recommended for study purposes. We engage in light reading when we read, say, magazines.

d) Active/ Detailed/ Intensive Reading: This is a comprehensive, thorough and concentrated

reading technique that is used in serious study. It calls for an active involvement in the reading
process with the main purpose being to understand the message deeply. In this type of reading
you need to interrogate or think over what you have read so as to both evaluate what you have
read as well as facilitate recall of read material.

e) Survey Reading: implies determining the relevance or usefulness of a reading material for a
certain reading goal by taking a broad view or skimming over it. It aids the reader in quickly
determining what a document is about and the degree to which it is relevant.

Surveying a book can be done at two levels:

 The book selection level where you examine:

 The title (should touch on the subject of interest)
 Publisher’s blurb (the publisher’s description usually found at the back of the book)
 Reviews and comments (if the book has been reviewed the comments are on the first page)
 Foreword / Preface / Introduction
 Table of contents (gives all the topics in the text)
 Indexes / Glossaries (usually found at the end of the book)
 Printing history (very important information about when, where, by whom; whether
reviewed, edited, reprinted, which edition, etc.
 Author’s background / expertise on the subject.

NOTE TAKING
Taking notes is a crucial part of the reading process. It entails pinpointing and writing down the
most important elements in the most exact manner possible.
Advantages of Taking Notes

i) Taking notes aids learning and comprehension by allowing you to translate what
you're learning into your own words, allowing you to better grasp and recall what you
are learning.
ii) Note taking enhances concentration as one is reading so as to be able to identify the
key points.
iii) Making notes aids in information assessment because you are highlighting the most
significant aspects of what you are reading or hearing. You are also detecting the
important themes and concepts of the text you are reading by taking notes..
iv) Note taking helps the reader to think deeply about the information contained in the
text and also develop other related ideas. This forces you to reflect and draw
connections between what you're writing and what you already know. As a result of
this process, it is more probable that knowledge will be remembered.

How to Take Notes

i) Choose the main points from the text you are reading, do not record all information.

ii) Distinguish between main points, supporting points and examples. You can highlight various
sections of your notes differently. You can underline, write in bold or use for instance when
writing the headings or key sections.

iii) While carefully considering the issue, listen to, read, or watch the source of notes and select
which parts of the source material are the most beneficial, then write them down in your own
words as your notes.

iv). Maintain brevity as you write your notes. Brief notes are easy to refer to during revision or
when making reference during a presentation. Brevity can be achieved by use of abbreviations or
mathematical symbols.
SPEED READING/ FASTER READING

Speed reading is a technique aimed at increasing reading speed while maintaining

comprehension. It involves several components and strategies that help readers process
information more efficiently. Here are the key components of speed reading:

1. Previewing

Skimming: Quickly glancing through headings, subheadings, and any highlighted text to get an
overview of the content.

Skimming is a strategic, selective reading method in which you focus on the main ideas of a text.
When skimming, deliberately skip text that provides details, stories, data, or other elaboration.
Instead of closely reading every word, focus on the introduction, chapter summaries, first and
last sentences of paragraphs, bold words, and text features. Skimming is extracting the essence of
the author’s main messages rather than the finer points.

Identifying Key Ideas: Looking for the main concepts and themes before diving into detailed
reading.

 Introduction and conclusion

 Chapter/section summaries

 First and last sentences

 Titles, subtitles, and headings

 Bold words

 Charts, graphs, or pictures

 End of chapter review questions

2. Reducing Subvocalization
Minimizing Internal Speech: Many readers "speak" the words in their heads while reading,

which can slow them down. Techniques to reduce subvocalization include using visual cues or

focusing on key phrases.

3. Using Peripheral Vision

Expanding Vision: Training the eyes to capture more words at once, rather than reading word by
word. This involves focusing on groups of words or phrases.

4. Chunking

Grouping Words: Instead of reading individual words, chunking involves reading groups of
words together as single units, which helps increase speed and comprehension.

By doing so, we reduce the amount of information we need to process at any given time, making
it easier to understand and remember. Chunking helps to create context and meaning, making it
easier to grasp complex ideas and information.

When we read, we are constantly processing information and trying to make sense of it. By
chunking information into meaningful units, we can reduce the cognitive load of reading and
make it easier to comprehend. This means that we can read faster and more efficiently, without
sacrificing comprehension.

5. Fixation and Regression Reduction

Reducing Fixations: Limiting the number of times your eyes stop to process information. Each
stop (or fixation) can slow down reading.

Minimizing Regression: Avoiding the habit of going back to reread previous text, which can
disrupt flow and slow down overall reading speed.

6. Improving Eye Movement

Training your eyes to move smoothly across the page rather than jumping back and forth.

7. Comprehension Techniques
Summarization: After reading sections, summarizing what you’ve read can enhance
understanding and retention.

Asking Questions: Formulating questions about the material can help focus your reading and
improve comprehension.

8. Practice and Drills

Regular Training: Like any skill, speed reading requires consistent practice. Using speed reading
apps or exercises can help reinforce techniques.

Timed Reading Sessions: Gradually increasing the speed of reading over time can help improve
both speed and comprehension.

9. Post-Reading Review

Reflection: After reading, reviewing the material can reinforce memory and understanding. This
can include discussing the content or teaching it to someone else.

SQ3R READING TECHNIQUE

S – Survey

Q – Question

R – Read

R – Recall

R – Review

Survey: This is a brief preview of content in order to acquire an overview of a topic, chapter, or
book. The goal is to find the text's essential points, as well as its substance and approach. In so
doing:

- Look at the title to get an idea on what the book is about.

-Read the introduction or summary to get the key points.

-Check boldface headings to see what the structure of the text is.

-Look at the maps, charts or graphs which give a summation of the ideas in the text.
 -Notice reading aids and any questions at the end of the chapter because they are meant to
help you understand and remember.

Question: Secondly, you should develop a questioning attitude. Formulate questions that you
want to answer after reading the book, you can do this by converting every subheading to a
question.

Read: After formulating the questions, you wish to answer, you can now read the material in
detail. The pace of your reading will depend on the complexity of the text. If the content is
simple, you can read at a faster pace. If the content is complex, you read at slower pace to
enhance comprehension.

Recall: After each section, take a moment to reflect on your questions. Test your memory by
answering them from memory. If not, go back and read the paragraph again. Do this as many
times as necessary. You may want to highlight key topics in your notes as you go.

Review: After reciting everything you can remember, it is time to review the text for anything
you skipped, didn’t understand or could not recall. This review gives you instant, meaningful
feedback about how well you read the material in the first place and how well you recalled what
you learned.

After you've done reading a chapter or section, look over all of the questions in all of the titles to
check whether you recall them. If not, go back and review your notes i.e. repeating the four
stages depending on your assessment of how much effort you need to make in order to study that
material. It is advised that first review should be done within 24 hours.

The Importance of SQ3R

i. It makes one to be conscious during the reading process

ii. The reader is able to actively think about the content read and relate it to knowledge and
experience.
iii. The stage of prediction or question formulation is both an indicator and a tool for
comprehension.
iv. Helps the reader to concentrate and retain the information from the reading experience.
Because reading is broken down into steps, it takes less time and effort and is more effective