How to read effectively
by Simon Grenall and Michael Swan
Everyone reads with some kind of purpose in mind; generally speaking, the purpose is either to enjoy oneself or to obtain information of some kind. Effective reading means being able to read accurately and efficiently, and to understand as much of the passage as you need in order to achieve your purpose. It may also be necessary to reproduce the content of the passage in some way or other, such as discussing its main ideas or writing a summary. Not everyone can read effectively even in their own language. Sometimes comprehension failure happens and the reader is unable to achieve his/her purpose. This comprehension failure may be a simple matter of not knowing the meaning of a word; but it's just as likely to be a deficiency in one or more of a number of specific reading skills.
Extracting main ideas
Sometimes it's difficult to see what the main ideas of a passage are, or to distinguish between important and unimportant information.
Reading for specific information
It's not always necessary to read the whole passage especially if you are looking for information which is needed to perform a specific task.
Understanding text organization
Readers may sometimes have trouble in seeing how a passage is organized. You are encouraged to practice recognizing how sentences are joined together to make paragraphs, how paragraphs form the passage, and how this organization is signaled.
Predicting
Before reading a passage, we usually subconsciously ask ourselves what we know about the subject matter. This makes it easier to see what information is new to you and what information you already know about as you read the passage. Developing this technique ensures that as you read, you are not overloaded with too much new information.
Checking comprehension
On certain occasions, such as in examinations, you need to study the passage very closely to find the answer to a question. The information you require is in the passage; all you have to do is find it.
Inferring
A writer may decide to suggest something indirectly rather than state it directly. The reader has to infer this information, which may well be one of the passage's main points. It is important to take note of what a sentence implies.
Dealing with unfamiliar words
One of the commonest problems facing the foreign learner is simply not being able to understand a word or expression. But it is often possible to guess its general sense by looking for clues in the context. You should develop the skills needed to make reasoned guesses about the meaning of new vocabulary based on the context, word-formation clues, implication and logics.
Linking ideas
In any passage an idea may be expressed in a number of different words or expressions.
Understanding complex sentences
Some writers use a deliberately complicated style in which it may be difficult to distinguish, for example, main clauses from subordinate clauses. Other writers are unintentionally obscure. The effect is that it is easy to lose sight of the general sense. You will also be given practice in seeing how long and complicated sentences can be simplified.
Understanding writer's style
An important part of the pleasure in reading is being able to appreciate why a writer chooses a certain word or expression and how he/she uses it.
Evaluating the text
A lot of information about the passage may be contained in the reason why it was written, or the purpose that certain sentences serve. For example, it may be important to distinguish between a statement of fact and an expression of the writer's opinion.
Writing summaries/précis
To be able to write accurate summaries requires accurate comprehension of the passage. Please note that the length of the summary depends on the extent of the original passage. In an examination (for example the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency), a summary should not exceed 100 words
التسميات: مقالات
