Active Reading

Prepared by
Shakila Akter
Lecturer in English
BUP
Discussion Topics

1. Active reading

2. Annotation

3. Analytical comprehension

4. Learning through practice

Active Reading
Active Reading
Active reading simply means-
 reading something with a determination to understand,
 evaluate it for its relevance to your needs.

Simply reading and re-reading the material isn't an effective

way to understand and learn. Actively and critically engaging
with the content can save you time.
Active reading strategies
Active Reading Strategies
 Ask yourself pre-reading questions. For example:
What is the topic, and what do you already know about
it? Why is it needed for you?
 Identify and define any unfamiliar terms.
 Bracket the main idea or thesis of the reading, and
put an asterisk next to it. Pay particular attention to
the introduction or opening paragraph to locate this
information.
Active Reading Strategies
 Underline or highlight key words and phrases as you read.
When you return to it later on, you can easily see which points
you identified as important. Be selective - too much highlighting
won't help.
 Make annotations in the margin to summarize points, raise
questions, challenge what you've read, jot down examples and
so on. You can do this in printed books or e-texts. This takes
more thought than highlighting, so you'll probably remember the
content better. (Use sticky notes if needed)
Active Reading Strategies
 Read critically by asking questions of the text. Who wrote it?
Who is the intended audience? Does it link with other material
you’ve studied before? Why do you think it was written?
 Put down your highlighter. Make marginal notes or comments
instead. Every time you feel the urge to highlight something, write
instead. You can summarize the text, ask questions, give assent,
protest vehemently. You can also write down key words to help
you recall where important points are discussed. Above all, strive
to enter into a dialogue with the author.
 Active Reading Strategies
 Write questions in the margins, and then answer the questions on a
separate piece of paper.
 Make outlines, flow charts, or diagrams that help you to map and to
understand ideas visually.
 Read each paragraph carefully and then determine “what it says”
and “what it does.” Answer “what it says” in only one sentence.
Represent the main idea of the paragraph in your own words. To
answer “what it does,” describe the paragraph’s purpose within the
text.
Active Reading Strategies
 Write your own exam question based on the reading.

 Teach what you have learned to someone else! Teaching is

one of the most effective ways to learn. If you try to explain
aloud what you have been studying, you’ll transfer the
information from short-term to long-term memory, and you’ll
quickly discover what you understand — and what you don’t.
Benefits of Active Reading
 Gives you a purpose for reading

 Improves your comprehension

 Provides an immediate test of your understanding

 Increases your concentration

 Keeps your free from having to reread the chapters again
and again
 Creates a study tool that will help to prepare for the exams