Reading for Academic Success
Academic Success Seminar/Workshop
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Minnesota
Deb Wingert, Ph.D.
Director of Educational Development
Reading for Academic Success
Academic material is not meant to be read.
It is meant to be ransacked and pillaged for
essential content.
canberra.edu, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Tip:
Set a time frame for reading....
Do not read any____________
than you can _______________
canberra.edu, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Tip:
Read the ___________ first!
Then check the headings, subheadings,
bolded terms
canberra.edu, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Tip:
Try writing or ____________________________
a brief summary of the chapter/section
The info you recall tend to stay in your memory by
the actual act (saying/writing) of recall
canberra.edu, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Tip:
Read Against the Grain
Begin reading to ________________________
(that you ask yourself about chapter sections)
The ‘look-away’ method:
Look away from the text and ask yourself a
question.......answer in your own words
studygs.net, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Tip:
Use methods of _____________________
that keep you alert and relaxed.
Weatherford College, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Tip: Read One Chapter or Section of a Chapter
In 10-15 minutes, read:
 Title
 Introduction
 Sub-headings
 Topic sentence of each
paragraph – (usually
the first or second
sentence)
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Last sentence of each
paragraph
Any italicized
or bolded words
Lists (you can skim
these)
Chapter conclusion
Weatherford College, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Tip: Read One Chapter or Section of a Chapter (C’d):
Then....
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Close your textbook.
Make a _________________ (10 minutes) of all
you can remember in the chapter.
Keep going, even if you feel that you can't
possibly remember any more-more will surface if you give yourself the time.
Do NOT open your text yet.
Weatherford College, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Tip: Read One Chapter or Section of a Chapter (C’d):
If you come to a dead end in mind mapping,
try memory techniques:
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_________________ ideas;
_________________ pages, pictures, graphs etc.;
staring out the window and blanking out
your thoughts.
This is strenuous, but rewarding.
Weatherford College, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Tip:
Hunt for signal words
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Important to note
Most of all
A significant factor
A __________________
A key feature
The main value
Especially valuable
Most noteworthy
Remember that
A major event
The chief outcome
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A vital force
Above all
A central issue
A distinctive quality
Especially relevant
Should be noted
__________________
The chief factor
Pay particular attention
to
csupomona.edu, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Tip:
Hunt for comparison & contrast words
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Comparison
Like/likewise/alike
Just
_________
Equally
In like manner
In the same way
Similarity/similarly
Just as
As in a similar fashion
Contrast
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But
However
In contrast
_______________
Differ
Difference
Variation
________________
On the contrary
conversely
Otherwise
On the other hand
csupomona.edu, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Tip:
Hunt for cause & effect words
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Cause and Effect.......used to describe results/effects
Because
Therefore
_________________
Cause
Reason
Effect
Thus
Consequently
_______________
As a result
If.....then
Resulted in.....
csupomona.edu, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Four Kinds of Reading
One:
Skimming
Use to locate information or main idea
csupomona, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Four Kinds of Reading
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Skimming(continued):
Read the first and last paragraph of the
book/text
For each chapter:
 Read the ____________________ of
each or the assigned
chapter(s).....check all visuals
 Let your eyes focus ________________
on each page, catching a word/phrase
on every page
 You can even scan the _____________
sentence of each paragraph
Reading for Academic Success
Four Kinds of Reading
TWO:
Speed Reading
Use to read rapidly for
____________________________________
________________________________
csupomona, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Four Kinds of Reading
TWO:
Speed Reading (continued):
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Try to avoid focusing on every word, but rather
look at _________________________ words.
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Use your hand or an index card to guide
your ________________ the page.
csupomona, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Four Kinds of Reading
TWO:
Speed Reading (continued):
If you have poor concentration when reading,
practice reading for only ________ minutes at
a time and gradually increase this time.
csupomona, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
Four Kinds of Reading
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TWO:
Speed Reading (continued):
Focus on ________________ of words
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Spend a few minutes each day
__________________ as fast as you can
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Use an index card (or hand) to guide your
eyes down the page
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Your speed increases when you
______________________________
Reading for Academic Success
Four Kinds of Reading
Three:
Study Reading
Use to read for maximum understanding:
SQ3R
or
SQ5R
csupomona, 2008
Strategies:
The SQ3R Method
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S_________
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Before you study, get the
overall picture (read
summaries, headings, etc.)
R______________
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Q__________
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Ask ‘what’ ‘where’ ‘when’
‘how’ and especially, ‘why’ as
you read/study
Write in margins of text and
notes.
Read to answer questions
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Hunt for Bold and italics
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Try to say main ideas,
important concepts in your
own words
Connect info to what you
already know
R________________
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Re-read to see what you have
remembered
Review (fine-tune) notes and
check any questions at the
end of your study time (NOT
just before exams!)
Strategies:
The SQ5R Method
 Survey
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Headings
Subheadings
Summaries
Overviews
Bolded terms
 Question
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Turn items above into a
question.....what, where,
who, when, why
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Read to answer the
questions raised
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Review key ideas,
words/phrases
Recite/say it out loud
 R_____________
 R_____________
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Reading for Academic Success
SQ5R....a Tip:
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Survey
Read the first and last page of the
chapter.....check all visuals
 Let your eyes focus once or twice on
each page, catching a word/phrase on
every page
 Scan the first and last sentence of each
paragraph
THEN you are ready to read the
chapter......you will likely understand it
much better!
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Reading for Academic Success
Four Kinds of Reading
Four:
Reflective
Use to read for specific procedures (recipes,
experiment, to critique/evaluate, to enjoy, to
share)
csupomona, 2008
Reading for Academic Success
A few tips:
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Circle key words and ____________
Jot main ideas ________________
Write questions as you read
Write brief summaries as you read
Outline/concept map main ideas
The Cornell System:
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Step One: R___________ Column
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Write notes during class in a ___________ column
The Cornell System:
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Step Two: R____________ Column
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After class, reduce ideas into a few words and place them in a __________
column
The Cornell System:
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Step Three: ______________________________
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Review notes after lecture. Connect main concepts in left (recall) column with
details in the right (record) column.
The Cornell System:
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Step Four: S_________________________
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In the bottom summary section, jot a few sentences , summarizing all main
points and why this is important. Students are 31% more likely to remember
content by doing this step!
Questions?
Thank you!!
Deborah A. Wingert, Ph.D.
Director of Educational Development
College of Veterinary Medicine (108 Pomeroy)
Preparing Future Faculty Program Coordinator
Early Career Program Facilitator
Center for Teaching and Learning
University of Minnesota
315 Science Classroom Building
222 Pleasant St. S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: (612/626-2995 at Pomeroy) or (612/625-3405 at CTL)
Email: winge007@umn.edu