“Dear Zoe,
I seem to have a hard time taking in concepts when I read a textbook. Do you have any reading strategies?” –Not a Bookworm
Dear Not a Bookworm,
I was excited when I saw your question. As an English major, reading is a strong passion of mine, and I want reading to be a pleasant experience for everyone. With the first round of exams coming to a close, I imagine some students are feeling frustrated with their scores. Professors love to take questions from the textbooks that are not covered in class. Not understanding — or not reading — can lead to aggravating exam scores, but improving the way you read the information from the textbook will help improve your scores.
Many people think reading is easy. Most of us have been reading since kindergarten and read a myriad of Facebook and Twitter posts a day. Reading is like math in that you need to practice it. It is not a big deal to add five and seven, but solving a non-separable differential equation will require practice and likely lots of mistakes. In the same way, reading “Good Night Moon” is a cakewalk but the “Illiad” feels like a slog. Many textbooks are jam packed with technical jargon that feels like reading a foreign language, but with patience and notes it is possible to decode.
My best advice is to be patient. Do not expect to fully understand the material on the first glance. Take the time to engage with the reading. Skimming is a great method to familiarize yourself with the text, but in order to prepare for an in depth discussion, write a paper, or to work the homework, take the time to read slowly. Focus on the examples given and do not overlook the optional questions. I have found that many of the end-of-chapter questions have a way of migrating onto tests.
When I read I find a quiet place in the library (the stacks are great) and I take notes on ideas that are interesting or that go completely over my head. I go back and reread to see if I can answer my own questions. If nothing puzzles you or makes you think of a new idea, then you probably did not read closely.
I was in a challenging math class last semester and I would have to look at the same example problem half a dozen times before I had a basic understanding of how to work it. I found that the textbook showed each and every step needed to work a problem, so if the wording confused me I could look at the problem’s steps. I reworked the same problem several times and found that the textbook was my best resource.
A valuable resource is to use Spark Notes or Cramster. Do not let the websites do the work for you, but if you use them alongside the reading and homework they can help fill in major plot holes and keep you on track. Professors also are a great resource. They are experts and are teaching because they love their field. If they can see that you read the reading and attempted the problems, they will happily clear up any confusion.
Reading is an integral part of college and our culture. Learning to read accurately and effectively is an invaluable skill that will take you to graduate school and into your profession. If you think you can skirt the reading think again.
