Five Reading Myths

MYTH 1: I HAVE TO READ EVERY WORD

Limit reading speed and comprehension

MYTH 2: READING ONCE IS ENOUGH

1streading: determine the main idea

Further reading: selective reading

√learning ideas

×painfully processing words visually

MYTH 3: IT IS SINFUL TO SKIP PASSAGES IN READING

Decide on what is worth reading, what can be put aside.

Some books are for reference

MYTH 4: IF I SKIM OR READ TOO RAPIDLY MY COMPREHENSION WILL DROP

rate≠comprehension of reading

Good comprehension: ability to extract and retain important ideas from your reading

Focus: your reading purpose; how quickly you can locate the facts and ideas that you need

MYTH 5: THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT MY EYES THAT KEEPS ME FROM READING FAST

Reading speed depends on how fast your brain can process the contents.

Don’t sound out the words, or you slow down your reading speed.

Steps to Follow in Skimming for the Main Ideas

1.Read the title of the chapter or selection carefully.

Clues? Key words + signal words

2.Look carefully at the headings and other organizational clues.

Major headings and subheadings; Italicized words and phrases; Lists of points; Redundancy or repetition

-