You don't have to Read It all - Fast Reading Techniques for Literature Exams
View PDF | Print View
by: EbeJovita777
Total views: 63
Word Count: 510
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2011 Time: 11:57 PM
Studying literature books involve lot of work as there are tons of pages and information to go through. The high volume of reading results in poor performance for many students in history exams. However, there are things you can do about going through a large amount of reading material in much faster. Naturally many prefer to read the entire book which is great but, this type of learning technique is time consuming. In fact, students who read whole books meticulously grasp less compared to students who master fast reading.
The solution to reading word by word is what is known as fast reading. This involves reading chunks of words block by block and understand the meaning of certain group of words. This is similar to digital images that are made of millions of pixels that can only make sense when viewed together. This also applies to reading material. When reading, try to combine several words into a phrase that enable you to read those words at the same time. You will gain speed if you are able to read more words in a block.
Some students when reading have a habit of pronouncing each word. This reading habit is known as sub-vocalizing. This habit develops by students as early as kindergarten when teachers encourage them to read by saying words aloud. To acquire better reading skills, you need to stop pronouncing words in your head. Pronouncing each word consumes a lot of time. It is difficult using this technique when reading an a text that has hundreds of pages. You need to stop this bad reading habit. Even though it might be difficult at first, but it is essential you will be able to read without sub-vocalizing.
Students have the habit of reading sequentially, which is responsible for slow reading. This means that they read by taking in every word, paragraph, page, and chapters in the order they are written. However, by doing this, you tend to take in a lot of details that are not relevant. The solution to this problem is to read by scanning pages for essentials, headings and subtitles. Although most people prefer to read from start to finish, this method will not produce good results, especially if you don't have much time left before the exam.
Another reading habit is re-reading a page. This habit is known as regression and it makes reading slower. When you read again words you have just read or a sentence, you are slowing down your reading. Moreover, regression slows down your understanding of a given subject. For you to read faster, you have to stop repeating sentences or words. You can use a pointer to encourage you to never go back. As you read, your eyes will follow the pointer, thus allowing you to have a smooth reading flow. The key for fast reading is to practice, practice and more practice. Don't be dis encouraged if it takes time, you will not only become a fast reader but also your understanding.
About the Author
Rating: Not yet rated
