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Communication Skills
Communication Skills
There are various reading strategies that are commonly discussed in English
Communication Skills books to help readers comprehend and engage with texts
more effectively.
Here are four key reading strategies along with explanations for each:
1. Skimming:
Skimming involves quickly glancing over a text to get a general idea of its
content, structure, and main points. This strategy is useful when you want to
determine if a text is relevant to your purpose or when you're looking for
specific information. Skimming involves reading headings, subheadings, and
the first and last sentences of paragraphs to grasp the main ideas without
reading every word.
Here's how the skimming strategy works:
Purposeful Scanning
When you're skimming, have a clear purpose in mind. Are you looking for a
specific piece of information? Are you trying to decide if the text is worth
reading in detail?
Focus on Headings and Subheadings:
Start by reading the headings, subheadings, and any bold or italicized text.
These give you a preview of the main topics covered in the text.
Read the First and Last Sentences:
Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph. These sentences often
contain the main ideas or topic sentences of the paragraph.
Pay Attention to Graphics and Visuals:
Look at any images, graphs, charts, or diagrams in the text. They can provide
visual cues about the content and main points.
Read the Opening and Closing Paragraphs:
Read the opening and closing paragraphs of the text. These sections often
contain the author's introduction to the topic and their summary or conclusion.
Skip Unnecessary Details:
During skimming, don't get caught up in reading every word. Instead, skip over
less relevant details and examples.
Grasp the Main Ideas:
By focusing on headings, topic sentences, and visuals, you should be able to
quickly grasp the main ideas and the overall flow of the text.
Skimming is particularly useful when you have a limited amount of time or
when you're dealing with a large volume of material. It helps you quickly decide
whether the text is worth reading in depth or if it contains the specific
information you're looking for. However, keep in mind that skimming may not
provide a deep understanding of the nuances and complexities of the text; for
that, more detailed reading strategies are necessary.
2. Scanning:
It involves quickly searching through a text to locate specific information,
keywords, or details without reading the entire content. Scanning is especially
useful when you're looking for specific facts, numbers, names, dates, or other
details within a text. It is particularly useful in textbooks, articles, or reference
materials where you know what you're looking for.
This strategy allows you to find relevant information efficiently without getting
bogged down in reading every word.
Here's how the scanning strategy works:
Have a Clear Purpose:
Before you start scanning, know exactly what information you're looking for.
Having a clear purpose will help you focus your search.
Use Keywords:
Identify the keywords or phrases that are directly related to the information you
need. These keywords are the ones you'll be scanning for in the text.
Ignore Unnecessary Text:
While scanning, ignore sections of text that are not related to your search.
You're not reading for comprehension; you're looking for specific keywords.
Move Your Eyes Quickly:
Scan the text by moving your eyes quickly over the content. Don't linger on any
one section; instead, focus on spotting the keywords.
Look for Formatting Cues:
Pay attention to formatting cues such as bold text, italics, headings, bullet
points, and numbers. These cues can help you locate the relevant information
faster.
Use Vertical and Horizontal Movements:
Scanning can involve moving your eyes both vertically and horizontally. For
example, you might scan vertically through a list of items or horizontally across
a paragraph.
Zero In on the Target:
Once you spot the keyword you're looking for, focus on that section of the text
to extract the specific information you need.
Scanning is particularly useful when you're looking for specific details in
textbooks, articles, directories, indexes, and other reference materials. It's an
efficient way to quickly find the information you need without reading the
entire text. However, it's important to note that scanning may not provide a deep
understanding of the context or surrounding information; for more
comprehensive understanding, other reading strategies like skimming or
detailed reading are necessary.
3. Detailed Reading:
Detailed reading is a comprehensive reading strategy which involves reading a
text carefully and attentively to thoroughly understand its content, grasp its
nuances, and extract detailed information. Detailed reading is used when you
want to gain an in-depth understanding of the text, analyze its arguments, and
extract specific details for further use or analysis.
Here's how the detailed reading strategy works:
Read the Entire Text:
Start by reading the entire text from beginning to end. This initial reading gives
you a general sense of the content and structure of the text.
Analyze Paragraphs:
Read each paragraph carefully and analyze its topic sentence. Identify the main
idea of each paragraph and how it contributes to the overall argument or theme.
Take Notes:
As you read, take notes on key points, important details, supporting evidence,
and any questions or insights that arise. Note any unfamiliar terms or concepts
that might require further clarification.
Highlight or Underline:
Highlight or underline relevant information, quotes, or passages that you might
want to reference later. This helps you quickly locate important details during
review.
Annotate the Text:
Write marginal notes or comments in the margins of the text to capture your
thoughts, reactions, or insights. This active engagement with the text enhances
your understanding.
Focus on Vocabulary:
Pay attention to new vocabulary words or terms. Look up their meanings to
ensure you fully understand the text.
Reflect on the Author's Intentions:
Consider the author's purpose, tone, and perspective. Think about why the
author chose certain examples or arguments and how they contribute to the
text's message.
Engage with Complex Concepts:
If the text presents complex concepts or ideas, take the time to reread and reflect
on them. Break down intricate parts to ensure a thorough understanding.
Ask Questions:
If you encounter parts of the text that are unclear, ask questions to yourself and
seek answers through re-reading, research, or discussion.
Detailed reading is often used when studying academic texts, analyzing
literature, conducting research, or preparing for discussions, presentations, or
writing assignments. It allows you to engage deeply with the content, extract
valuable information, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the text's
meaning and implications.
4. Critical Reading:
Critical reading is an advanced reading strategy which involves analyzing a text
deeply, critically evaluating its content, and forming your own informed
opinions and interpretations. Critical reading goes beyond understanding the
text's surface meaning; it requires you to engage with the ideas, arguments, and
assumptions presented by the author and to consider their validity, relevance,
and implications.
Here's how the critical reading strategy works:
Analyze the Author's Argument:
Examine the author's main argument and identify the supporting evidence they
provide. Consider whether the evidence is strong and relevant to the argument.
Evaluate the Evidence:
Assess the quality and credibility of the evidence presented. Determine if the
evidence is based on solid research, facts, and logical reasoning.
Identify Assumptions and Biases:
Recognize any assumptions or biases the author may have. Consider how these
assumptions impact the argument's validity and the text's overall message.
Consider the Author's Perspective:
Think about the author's perspective, background, and potential motivations.
How do these factors influence the way they present their ideas?
Engage in Critical Thinking:
Engage in critical thinking by questioning the text's logic, identifying
inconsistencies, and evaluating the strength of the argument.
Compare with Other Sources:
Compare the text's ideas with those from other sources. Are there differing
viewpoints, and how do they contribute to the broader discussion?
Reflect on Your Own Opinions:
As you read, consider your own opinions, beliefs, and experiences. How do they
align or differ from the author's perspective?
Formulate Your Response:
Formulate your own response to the text. Express your agreement,
disagreement, or a nuanced view, supported by evidence and logical reasoning.
Consider Implications:
Think about the implications of the author's argument. How might the ideas
presented impact society, individuals, or specific contexts?
Engage in Discussion:
Engage in discussions with others about the text. Sharing and debating
interpretations can lead to deeper insights and perspectives.
WHAT IS A SUMMARY ?
A summary is a concise and condensed version of a longer text or piece of
writing. It captures the main ideas, key points, and essential details of the
original text while omitting less important information, examples, and
supporting details. A well-written summary provides readers with a clear
understanding of the original text's content and main message without having to
read the entire document.
Purpose of a Summary:
The primary purpose of creating a summary is to distill complex or lengthy
information into a more manageable form, making it easier for readers to grasp
the central concepts without getting lost in the details. Summaries are often used
when you need to quickly understand the content of a text, review the main
points, or provide a brief overview to others.
Summaries are valuable tools for efficient reading, studying, and
communication. They allow readers to quickly extract essential information
from lengthy texts, making it easier to comprehend and remember important
content.
DISCUSS SEVEN STEPS TAKEN IN SUMMARY WRITING.
1. Avoid Rushing
This is crucial in creating an effective summary. Rushing through the process
can lead to incomplete or inaccurate summaries that fail to capture the nuances
and depth of the original text. Taking your time allows you to thoroughly
understand the content and craft a well-crafted summary. Here's why and how to
avoid rushing:
Ensure Accuracy:
Rushing may cause you to miss key details, main ideas, or nuances of the
original text. Take the time to read and comprehend the content accurately.
Capture Essential Information:
An effective summary should capture the essential information and main points.
Rushing might lead to overlooking critical aspects of the text.
Maintain Clarity:
Summaries should be clear and coherent. Rushing can result in fragmented or
unclear summaries that fail to convey the author's intended meaning.
Reflect and Process:
Take breaks between reading and summarizing to reflect on the content.
Processing the information helps you internalize the material and identify its
significance.
Review and Revise:
Allocate time to review and revise your summary. Rushed summaries often
contain errors or lack polish.
Focus on Understanding:
Prioritize understanding the text over speed. A deep understanding is necessary
to create a meaningful and accurate summary.
Allow Time for Synthesis:
Summarizing involves synthesizing information into a concise form. Rushing
can hinder your ability to synthesize effectively.
Avoid Misinterpretation:
Rushing may lead to misinterpretation of the author's intent. Take the time to
comprehend the nuances and subtleties in the text.
Enhance Critical Thinking:
Carefully considering each idea in the text enhances your critical thinking skills
and enables you to identify key arguments and supporting evidence.
Maintain Quality:
Quality summaries require time and effort. Rushing compromises the quality of
your work and may lead to inaccuracies.
Capture the Tone and Style:
Rushed summaries might miss capturing the author's tone, style, and voice. Pay
attention to these aspects to create a faithful summary.
Creating an effective summary is a thoughtful and deliberate process. Avoiding
rushing ensures that you produce a summary that accurately represents the main
ideas and key points of the original text. Take the time to read, understand, and
synthesize the content, resulting in a well-crafted and impactful summary.
2. Take Notes
This is fundamental in creating an effective summary. This step involves
actively engaging with the original text by jotting down key points, main ideas,
supporting details, and relevant information. Here's how to approach this step:
Annotate the Text:
Use highlighting, underlining, or marginal notes to mark important passages,
main ideas, and key phrases in the original text.
Paraphrase Main Points:
As you read, paraphrase the main points and key concepts in your own words.
This helps you process and internalize the content.
Summarize Paragraphs:
After reading each paragraph, summarize its main idea in a sentence or two.
This practice encourages active engagement with the text.
Record Supporting Evidence:
Note down supporting evidence, examples, data, or quotes that the author uses
to back up their main points.
Focus on Headings and Subheadings:
Pay attention to headings and subheadings. They often provide a roadmap for
the content's organization and main ideas.
Capture Details:
Jot down details that provide context, historical background, or additional
insights into the topic.
Organize Your Notes:
Arrange your notes in a logical order that mirrors the structure of the original
text. This helps you maintain the flow in your summary.
Use Abbreviations and Symbols:
Develop a system of abbreviations and symbols to speed up your note-taking.
This allows you to capture information quickly.
Focus on Clear and Concise Notes:
Aim for clarity and conciseness in your notes. Use bullet points, short phrases,
and concise sentences.
Prioritize Key Ideas:
Focus on the most important and relevant ideas. Not all details need to be
included in your summary.
Highlight Confusing Points:
If you come across confusing or unclear sections, highlight them in your notes.
This alerts you to revisit those areas for better understanding.
Review and Revise Notes:
After completing your initial notes, review and revise them for accuracy and
coherence. Ensure that your notes capture the essence of the text.
Taking comprehensive and organized notes while reading helps you distill the
main ideas and key information from the original text. These notes serve as the
foundation for your summary, enabling you to craft a concise and accurate
representation of the content's core concepts.
3. Note Key Quotes
This is essential in creating an effective summary. This step involves identifying
and highlighting quotes or passages from the original text that encapsulate key
ideas, arguments, or significant points. Incorporating these quotes into your
summary can enhance its accuracy and impact. Here's how to approach this
step:
Identify Impactful Quotes:
As you read the original text, keep an eye out for quotes that stand out as
particularly impactful, well-phrased, or representative of the author's main
points.
Choose Quotes that Convey Main Ideas:
Select quotes that effectively convey the main ideas, arguments, or key concepts
of the text. These quotes should capture the essence of the author's message.
Quotes Supporting Evidence:
Highlight quotes that provide evidence, examples, or supporting details for the
author's claims. These quotes add credibility and depth to your summary.
Quotes with Unique Perspective:
Note quotes that offer a unique perspective, insight, or viewpoint on the topic.
Such quotes can add depth to your summary by showcasing the author's
expertise.
Avoid Over quoting:
While key quotes are valuable, avoid over quoting. Select a few impactful
quotes that enhance your summary without overwhelming it.
Use Accurate Quotations:
Ensure that you accurately reproduce the quotes from the original text.
Misquoting can distort the author's intended meaning.
Integrate Quotes Smoothly:
Integrate the chosen quotes seamlessly into your summary. Use quotation marks
and attribute the quotes to the author. Follow each quote with a brief
explanation or context.
Prioritize Conciseness:
Keep the quotes relatively short and concise. Choose the words that best
encapsulate the main idea.
Verify Context:
Ensure that the quotes you select retain their intended meaning when taken out
of the original context. Avoid misinterpretation.
Reflect Author's Voice:
Choose quotes that reflect the author's tone, style, and voice. This maintains the
authenticity of the summary.
Mix Quotes and Paraphrasing:
While noting key quotes is important, balance them with your paraphrased
explanations of the main points. This ensures a well-rounded summary.
Incorporating key quotes into your summary adds depth and authenticity. They
serve as evidence of the author's assertions and help you capture the nuances of
their arguments. However, remember that your summary is not solely composed
of quotes; they should complement your own synthesis of the main ideas.
4. Note Structure and Organization
Is crucial in creating an effective summary. This step involves analyzing the
way the original text is structured and organized, and then replicating that
logical flow in your summary. Here's how to approach this step:
Identify Main Sections:
Break down the original text into its main sections or headings. These sections
often represent distinct topics or key points.
Understand the Sequence:
Pay attention to the sequence in which the author presents their ideas. Are they
building an argument, providing examples, or presenting a chronological
account?
Note Subheadings and Subsections:
If the text has subheadings or subsections, recognize how they contribute to the
overall structure and organization of the content.
Observe Transitions:
Analyze how the author transitions between different sections and ideas.
Transitions provide insights into the author's logical progression.
Identify Supporting Details:
Note the supporting details, evidence, examples, and explanations that the
author uses to substantiate their main ideas.
Observe Paragraph Structure:
Pay attention to the structure of paragraphs. Identify topic sentences that
introduce the main point of each paragraph.
Recognize Patterns:
Observe if the author uses a pattern, such as comparing and contrasting, cause
and effect, problem and solution, or listing key points.
Emphasize Key Arguments:
Identify the central arguments or claims that the author makes. These are often
encapsulated in thesis statements or main points.
Highlight Introduction and Conclusion:
Understand how the author introduces the topic and concludes their discussion.
These sections often outline the purpose and main findings.
Consider Visual Aids:
If the original text includes diagrams, charts, or graphs, note how they
contribute to the overall organization.
Replicate the Structure:
When creating your summary, replicate the structure and organization of the
original text. Begin with an introduction, present the main points in the order
they appear, and conclude with a concise summary of the overall message.
Maintain Logical Flow:
Ensure that your summary maintains a logical flow and coherence, similar to
the original text. Each main point should lead to the next seamlessly.
By noting the structure and organization of the original text, you're able to
create a summary that captures the author's intended progression of ideas. This
step ensures that your summary accurately represents the main points and their
relationships, resulting in a well-organized and coherent summary that
effectively conveys the essence of the original content.
5. Understand the Context
This is crucial in creating an effective summary. This step involves gaining a
comprehensive understanding of the background, purpose, audience, and setting
in which the original text was written. Here's how to approach this step:
Research the Author:
Learn about the author's background, expertise, and other works. This can
provide insights into their perspective, biases, and motivations for writing the
text.
Determine the Purpose:
Identify the author's purpose in writing the text. Are they informing, persuading,
entertaining, or analyzing? Understanding the purpose helps you grasp the main
message they aim to convey.
Know the Target Audience:
Consider who the text is intended for. Is it for a scholarly audience, the general
public, professionals, or a specific group? Understanding the target audience
informs how technical or accessible your summary should be.
Explore the Historical Context:
If applicable, research the historical or cultural context in which the text was
written. Understanding the time period, events, and societal factors can shed
light on the text's significance and relevance.
Identify the Genre:
Determine the genre of the text – whether it's a news article, academic paper,
opinion piece, story, or research report. The genre influences the style and tone
of the writing.
Recognize Bias and Perspective:
Be aware of any potential bias in the text. Authors may have personal, cultural,
or ideological biases that influence their perspective. Understanding these biases
helps you interpret the content critically.
Consider the Publication Medium:
If the text is published in a specific medium (print, online, academic journal,
blog, etc.), consider how this affects its style, length, and intended impact.
Analyze Title and Introduction:
The title and introduction often provide clues about the text's focus and main
ideas. Analyze these elements to grasp the central theme.
Understand the Setting:
If the text is part of a larger discourse, consider how it fits within the broader
conversation. Understanding the setting helps you see the text's contribution and
relevance.
Identify Key Concepts:
Pick out key terms, concepts, or keywords used in the text. Understanding their
meaning and context is essential for accurately summarizing the content.
Be Mindful of Cultural Nuances:
If the text involves cultural references or terms, research their meanings and
significance to avoid misinterpretation.
Reflect on Impact:
Consider what impact the author intended the text to have. Are they aiming to
inform, provoke thought, challenge assumptions, or inspire action?
Understanding the context ensures that you interpret the original text accurately
and create a summary that conveys the author's message within the appropriate
framework. It allows you to capture not only the literal meaning of the words
but also the broader intentions and implications behind them.
Paraphrasing:
Purpose: The purpose of paraphrasing is to restate the content of the original
text in your own words while retaining its meaning. Paraphrasing is used to
explain complex ideas or to incorporate specific details from a source into your
work.
Level of Detail: Paraphrased content retains more of the original detail than
summaries. It may include specific examples and supporting evidence.
Process: Paraphrasing involves reading a section of the original text,
understanding its meaning, and then rephrasing it using your own words. It
requires a good understanding of the source material.
Language and Style: Paraphrased content maintains the author's original
meaning but uses different words and sentence structures. It's essential to avoid
using the same sentence structure and wording as the original.
Length: Paraphrased sections can be similar in length to the original text, as
they retain more detail. However, the wording is changed to avoid plagiarism.
In essence, summarizing provides a concise overview of the main ideas and key
points, while paraphrasing rephrases specific sections or ideas in your own
words. Both techniques require a good understanding of the source material and
are essential for incorporating external information into your work while
avoiding plagiarism