Reading Comprehension
THIEVES
Appropriate Grade Level: Upper Elementary - College
Procedures/Steps:
1. Title is the start into a chapter. What do I think I will be reading about? What do I
already know about this topic? How does it relate to preceding chapters?
2. Headings are the gateway to general subject areas within the chapter. Does this
heading let me anything? Does it give me a clue to what I am going to be reading?
Can I turn this heading into a question that is likely to be answered in the actual
content?
3. Introduction provides the framework for the chapter. Does the first paragraph
introduce and overview of what I will be reading about? Do I know any prior
knowledge?
4. Every first sentence in a paragraph. Preview by reading the first sentence of each
paragraph. This may result in eliminating some portions of the text that do not seem
to merit further examination.
5. Visuals and vocabulary. Perusing photographs, charts, graphs, maps, or tables
provides a insight into reading. Is there narrative in the text to further explain the
visuals? How do the captions help me better understand the meaning of the visual?
Is there a list of key vocabulary terms and definitions? Are important words in bold
type and defined? Do I know what these key words mean?
6. End-of-the-chapter questions. Important points and concepts in the reading can
be alerted from questions. What information do I learn from the questions? Where
are potential answers to the questions located within the text?
7. Summary. Give attention to the conclusion of the chapter.
Comments and/or tips:
 Can be a individualized learning tool
 Readily applicable to a wide range of material
 Student comment, “Man, that went fast…and I actually think I know
what I’m talking about! I won’t tell anyone to how great it was to be a
thief!”
Source:
Manz, S. L. (2002). A strategy for previewing textbooks: Teaching readers to
become thieves, 55, 434-35.