"how to read a page; a course in effective reading, with an introduction to a hundred great words"

by Mrs. Kiera Adams III 9 min read

What is the primary goal of Reading in an academic course?

When you read while studying an academic course, your principal goal will be to gather information in order to answer an assignment question or gain further information on a subject for an exam or other type of assessment.

What is effective reading in education?

Effective Reading. When studying, especially at higher levels, a great deal of time is spent reading. Academic reading should not be seen as a passive activity, but an active process that leads to the development of learning.

What are the best practices for writing an introduction?

Best Practices for Writing an Introduction. There’s no one perfect way to write an introduction. Your technique will vary depending on factors like your topic, the tone of your publication, and your audience. Here are a few do’s and don’ts. Do keep your introduction paragraph short. There are no hard and fast rules,...

What makes a good introduction paragraph?

A good introduction paragraph is an essential part of any academic essay. It sets up your argument and tells the reader what to expect. The main goals of an introduction are to: Catch your reader’s attention.

Why is suggested reading important?

Suggested reading will not only increase your comprehension of a subject area but will potentially greatly enhance the quality of your written work. Other Sources. Perhaps one of the most important academic reading skills is to identify your own additional reading materials.

What is academic reading?

Academic reading, therefore, means understanding the author’s interpretation of reality, which may be very different from our own.

Why is it important to be objective in reading?

Being objective allows you to stand back and be emotionally detached from your reading. This allows you to focus attention upon what you are reading and not on your feelings about what you read. It helps if you have a genuine interest in the subject that you are reading about.

What is critical reading?

You will be engaged in, what is termed as, critical reading. When you read while studying an academic course, your principal goal will be to gather information in order to answer an assignment question or gain further information on a subject for an exam or other type of assessment.

Why is it important to remain detached from what you are reading?

Fundamentally it is important to remain detached from, and be objective towards, what you are reading, in order to see and understand the logic within an argument. Objectivity differs from subjectivity which means bringing your own emotions and opinions to what you read.

What are course materials?

Course Materials. Course materials will vary considerably from one institution to another and also across different disciplines and for different teachers. You may be given course materials in the form of a book, especially if you are taking a distance-learning course, or in hand-outs in lectures.

Is reading a passive activity?

When studying, especially at higher levels, a great deal of time is spent reading. Academic reading should not be seen as a passive activity, but an active process that leads to the development of learning. Reading for learning requires a conscious effort to make links, understand opinions, research and apply what you learn to your studies.

Vocabulary

Students engage in oral language, listen to adults read to them, and read extensively on their own.

Comprehension

Teach students to be aware of what they do and do not understand, & the fix-up strategies.

Reprints

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Why is it important to write a good introduction for a book?

Crafting a strong book introduction is important because it will draw your readers in and get them excited about reading the text! It also provides supportive teaching to help your students successfully read a book that would be just a little bit too hard for them to read independently.

How to help students understand the text?

Introduce important language structures and words to help students successfully decode and comprehend the text. Discuss important concepts and get students thinking about the main idea of the text. Briefly mention a strategy that students might find helpful as they read the text. Provide students with a purpose for reading the book.

What brought a boom in literacy?

Innovations in printing, paper-making, and transport, combined with increased public education, brought a boom in worldwide literacy from the late 18th century. Established links between a nation’s levels of literacy and its economy led to the promotion of reading for political ends.

What is the history of reading?

Reading: A Very Short Introduction explores the fascinating history of literacy and the opportunities reading opens. For much of human history reading was the preserve of the elite, and most reading meant being read to. Innovations in printing, paper-making, and transport, combined with increased public education, brought a boom in worldwide literacy from the late 18th century. Established links between a nation’s levels of literacy and its economy led to the promotion of reading for political ends. Reading has also been associated with subversive ideas, leading to censorship. Telling the story of reading, its ambiguities and complexities, from the ancient world to digital reading and restrictions today, this VSI explores why it is such an important aspect of our society.

How to write an introduction paragraph?

Best Practices for Writing an Introduction 1 Do keep your introduction paragraph short. There are no hard and fast rules, but for most types of features and blog posts three or four sentences is a reasonable goal. 2 Don’t waste words. Write lean. Get rid of filler words and phrases. It’s good to practice clean, crisp writing in general, but it’s especially important in an opening paragraph to capture your reader’s attention. 3 Do consider eliminating your first sentence. Your first sentence (or even your first two or three) is often a sort of writer’s warmup. Cut it and see if it makes the intro stronger. 4 Don’t oversell it. Never let your intro write a check your article can’t cash. Whatever you promise in the opening paragraph, make sure you deliver in the post itself. 5 Do try drafting the rest of your article before working on the introduction. Often, writing a piece will reveal the best way to introduce it. If your intro doesn’t flow from the beginning, start with a placeholder and write the opening paragraph after the article is complete.

What is the purpose of sharing something personal in an introduction?

Much like storytelling, sharing something personal in an introduction can pique a visitor’s curiosity. Either he’ll feel he can relate, or the story will be so unique that he’ll be driven to read on to discover more.

What to say when you don't think of a purple gorilla?

When you tell someone “Whatever you do, don’t think of a purple gorilla!” the first thing they do is think of a purple gorilla. (You’re welcome! Don’t worry; he’s friendly.) The same psychological tactic can work in writing an introduction.

Does Grammarly save you from misspellings?

Here’s a tip: Grammarly runs on powerful algorithms developed by the world’s leading linguists, and it can save you from misspellings, hundreds of types of grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and words that are spelled right but used in the wrong context. Learn More.

What was the first invention of Braille?

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

What is the hook of an essay?

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction. It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting. To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

Why is Braille important?

Braille was an extremely important invention. The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. The first sentence is a dry fact; the second sentence is more interesting, making a bold claim about exactly why the topic is important. The internet is defined as “a global computer network providing a variety ...

How to write a hook for an essay?

Step 1: Hook your reader. Your first sentence sets the tone for the whole essay, so spend some time on writing an effective hook. Avoid long, dense sentences—start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

What is an opening hook?

An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention. Relevant background information that the reader needs to know. A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument. The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay.

What was the first writing system designed for blind people?

As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe.

What is the introduction to Frankenstein?

This introduction to a literary analysis essay, about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, starts by describing a simplistic popular view of the story, and then states how the author will give a more complex analysis of the text’s literary devices. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale.

How Reading Develops

  • Learning to read as a child usually results in the ability to read simple material relatively easily. As we develop our skills in reading, the process often becomes more challenging. We are introduced to new vocabulary and more complex sentence structures. Early school textbooks offer us facts or ‘truths’ about the world which we are required to le...
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The Goal of Reading

  • Most of us read in everyday life for different purposes – you are reading this page now, for a purpose. We read to gain factual information for practical use, for example, a train timetable or a cinema listing. For such documents we rarely need to analyse or interpret. We may also read fiction in order to be entertained; depending upon the reader, a level of interpretation may be app…
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Necessary Reading Materials

  • When you are engaged in formal study, for example at college or university, there will be distinct areas of reading that you will be directed towards. These may include: 1. Course Materials Course materials will vary considerably from one institution to another and also across different disciplines and for different teachers. You may be given course materials in the form of a book, …
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Attitudes to Reading

  • Often, when we begin to read books relating to a new topic, we find that the language and style are difficult to follow. This can be off-putting and disheartening, but persevere; specialist subject areas will contain their own specialist ‘language’ which you will need to learn. Perseverance will mean that you become more familiar with the style of writing and the vocabulary or jargon asso…
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