As you prepare for college, the days of passively reading are long gone. You must now learn to interact with your texts and do more than simply take notes. As the required reading load begins to grow, skills for college reading may be different than many reading skills you have been taught in the past. After reading the strategies in the articles provided in class (links also provided below), watch the video below provided to students of Harvard University (Extension School) with tips for success.
By Wednesday Night at 11:59pm (9/10): Write a 2 paragraph response to the articles and video explaining what information you found to be useful or surprising. Are there any tips or strategies discussed you feel you can implement that you feel may help you succeed in your studies? Are there any tips or strategies discussed that you have tried and did not work for you? What do you feel is the best advice for studying/reading that you have received?
By Thursday Night 11:59pm (9/11): Respond to at least 3 of your classmates posts in 3-5 sentences. You may agree, disagree, comment or question, but be sure to EXPLAIN your thoughts!
Link to the Articles:Dartmouth: Active Reading and Comprehension
Read the following: Reading Myths (both Six Reading Myths and Harvard Report on Reading)
Active Reading Strategies (SQ3R Method)
Video: 5 Strategies for Academic Success
I wish I had learned many of these skills while I was in high school. My first few months of college were spent learning to "read" in a new way. I had spent my entire educational career being taught that it was incredibly important to read each and every word. It was not until AP English during my senior year that I learned it is acceptable in many academic settings to skim pieces for information.
ReplyDeleteI was most surprised that Dartmouth suggests students use the SQ3R method. This was a method I learned in middle school, which I never used again until graduate school. Many of the articles I read when researching this topic for class discussed how many students overuse highlighters. I am guilty of this as well. I frequently find myself zoning out and highlighting whole paragraphs. Throughout my studies, I have found it most useful to highlight the second time I read a passage, and then take notes on the highlighted sections. Even in my 25th year of schooling, I still am learning new tips and tricks about reading and studying.
I agree 100 percent with the idea of highlighting. I too am guilty of highlighting paragraphs of information. Because we were taught from an early age to read word for word, we tend to think that everything we read is important. This leads to blindly highlighting large paragraphs of unnecessary information. By skimming and retaining, a person is able to understand the main ideas and highlight accordingly.
DeleteIts very interesting when you said that in your few first months of college you managed to learn to "read" in a new way, now when I go to college I would hopefully be ahead of most of my peers. Plus its seems like college teaches you alot about new ways to do things, hopefully when I go to college I can learn many new things aside from the articles that I just read. I cant wait until I learn more new tips about reading and studying as I get older.
DeleteThese articles I found are very beneficial. One thing I learned from this passage is how to properly skim. Before I never liked the idea of skimming. I always before to read the whole passage, even if the teacher tells me just to skim. Now I realize you can get just as much information from skimming as reading. I never knew analyzing things will save you some good time and as well get you a good grade.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading these articles I learned very interesting tips, so I actually reread them using the tips. To my surprise I found out that I actually already do some of these things they told me to do. For studying I always had used the SQ3R method, it was weird finding out that it was an actual method that a lot of other people used. Now it makes me feel like I have been studying right all along, since I never knew it was a method in the first place, I just always studied like that. Overall I liked all the strategies they told me to use and will use them in the future.
I have to agree with you on skimming. I was the same way, I had to read every single word, even if the teacher said to only read the important parts. Now after reading this article, I now know what to look for, things like headlines and things in bold print.
DeleteI have always skimmed because I found that it was the best route for me as a reader who can get distracted during long readings. However, I never knew the "correct" way to go about skimming. I agree that the section of how to properly skim was greatly beneficial and will help me the next time I have to conquer a long reading.
DeleteI agree! Skimming is a great idea, especially when reading drawn out or confusing statements. Like many of us, I've always skimmed when reading, but have always assumed it was not a good idea; I am happy to see that it is actually recommended.
DeleteI think we all agree that skimming was a surprise to us on this list. We have been taught that we have to read every word to really understand something. But this list confirms that skimming is an efficient way to read
DeleteI also reread the article using the tips! It was amazing to see the difference in my interest level and my information retention. Learning to skim and the other tips provided will be sure to make me a better student.
DeleteThese 3 articles and video provided me with great information that I found to be very beneficial! They taught me ways to get ahead in my reading and studying process without having the waste time in reading unnecessary information. The one thing I really took away the most from the information provided was the idea of skimming a text in order to focus on the main ideas of the passage rather than focusing on each word written. It helps to speed up your reading and it betters your study skills. Many students, like myself, have always thought that it was wrong to skin because of what we have been taught in school growing up. However, the information in the articles helps me to see that it is a fundamental skill needed in order to really gain a deeper understanding of any given text I am given.
ReplyDeleteThe video provided some very helpful tips as to how one can better both their reading and study skills. One of the most important tips I took away from the video was the idea of setting goals. Each class has goals for each student to reach but this also helps in out personal lives when it comes to setting personal goals outside of school in the professional world. These tips and tools help better us in more ways than just improving our reading and study skills. They help prepare us for life outside of school, and these are tips we should hold into for the rest of our lives.
I agree on you with setting goals. As I said in my comment, I always try to set goals when doing projects, so I am not starting them the night before they are due. It is something that I have done and will continue to due.
DeleteYour statement that skimming is a skill that is imperative to really understand any text is completely accurate. I believe that when I perfect this skill, I will be using it a lot in the rest of my highschool career. I will probably use this skill for the rest of my life as I continue to seek further education. It's great that I was fortunate enough to come across this article.
DeleteI completely agree that these tips really do prepare us for this year, college, and beyond. Each tip haled great importance and were very useful. I especially agree that the tip of setting goals is so important. It is good to set goals to reach for because sometimes all the school work can get so overwhelming.
DeleteSetting goals in a class is very important. It is a great way to plan ahead and know why you are there and also keeps you motivated. The only goals that I set for my all my classes generally is to pass with an A.
DeleteI gained a lot of useful information from these articles. I admit to being one of those students who thought I had to read through each every piece of information in order to gain all of the information that I need. Now I know that i can skim over a passage, article, or chapter as long as I take note of all the main ideas. Doing this will save so much time to respond to questions and answer any prompts given.
ReplyDeleteThe video provided useful information as well. Setting personal goals has always been something that has been successful for me in the past, as well as trying to maintain my happiness. But hearing a professor speak about the success in life being tied together with being positive helped to further cement that thought in my head. The information given in the articles and the video have given me pivotal information to not only be prosperous in school, but also in whatever higher education I may pursue
Same with me, before reading these articles I had to read everything word for word, but now I also realize that as long as I know all the main ideas I am allowed to skim. I also think that the video with the professor from Harvard was very helpful and provided with information that I can use in the long run. I completely agree that the information given in the articles and video has given me pivotal information that I need in higher education.
DeleteI agree with Charles because I have the same problem. I always used to read every single of a passage and depending on the length, could at times be very time consuming. Now that I know skimming will be beneficial I will also do so much more often.
DeleteThese articles proved to be very helpful for me, not only for high school, but for the future also. I am one of the people that has to read every single word in a book. I find it hard to determine what is important and what is not. While in AP World, I always read every single word in the textbook. It would end up taking me forever just to read a certain section of the textbook. Looking for all the headings can be very useful, to help you determine where the important info is. and what you can just skim through. That tip was very useful.
ReplyDeleteThe five things presented in the video were also very informative and useful. I us number two already. When doing projects, I always set goals for myself. For example, finish one part by Monday and the next part by Thursday. This helps me finish my projects without cramming everything in the night before it is due. Trying to cram projects in can cause stress, which is not good for anyone. All of these tips will help me throughout high school, and beyond.
Bryan, I totally agree with what you are saying. I used to read word for word on everything I read because I thought it was the right thing to do, but find skimming through the text to be much more effective.
DeleteI most definitely agree with the idea of setting goals to get work done. I have always been the one to wait last minute to do projects. However, ever since I started setting goals for myself, I found that I finish way before things are do. Finishing with plenty of time to the due date is such a great feeling and way better than trying to cram everything in the night before. With doing things last minute I feel my work isn't done to it's full potential.
DeleteI totally back your statement Bryan. Cramming projects and reading can be really stressful and possibly result in a poor grade on my assignment. I also agree that using these tips and stategies will help me throughout highschool and beyond because I can save so much time on reading. I'm also one of those people that feel like I have to read every word of every sentence in order to feel not guilty. Now with this newly acquired information we can save time on reading and still capture the main concept of the novel.
DeleteSetting a goal is important! When I set goals, I get everything done...that is, if I follow through with my goals. Setting goals ahead of time helps me get things accomplished better, and if was nice to be reminded just how important it is.
DeleteI agree with the goal setting. I am always doing projects last minute, because i always tell myself i'll "do it tomorrow". If i start setting goals to finish project pieces one at a time for certain dates, I'm sure projects will be easier for me.
DeleteI am completely agreeing with you Bryan, I am the exact same way about setting goals for myself. Especially for homework and projects. I have to do certain things everyday, I cant do it all on one day or nothing for one day. One thing I hate is stress, and with these tips I shall be stress free.
DeleteI feel that everything in these articles is very beneficial and will be very useful to me. One particular thing that will help me is skimming. I was always taught that i was not okay to skim and that I should always read the whole thing word for word or else i would not comprehend it fully. I now know that it is okay to skim when reading and that you will comprehend the information. Another great part of the article was the steps for skimming properly, i will be sure to use them.
ReplyDeleteThe video was also very helpful and full of useful tips. One being goal setting, it is always important to realize and set your goals. Another great thing she speaks of is "recovery time." I now know it is very important to take time to recover. It may be after working for a long period of time or if you are stressed but it is important to take some time off before you continue your work. I will be sure to remember these helpful tips during this school you and I am sure it will better me.
I totally agree with you on the "recovery time" tip being a very helpful tip. I'm always used to studying straight for hours, but now I realize that just taking a break can be a good thing. It may take time getting used to, but hopefully I can overcome my habit and take this helpful tip into account.
DeleteLeah I totally agree with you on the recovery time as well as the goal setting. I believe the recovery time will help student athletes like us to not go into zombie-reading and -writing mode. I also believe it is good to set goals so you know exactly what to aim for when skimming an article.
DeleteSame here Leah. I was always taught that skimming was like some sort of sin if it wasn't done properly. This article helped me step by step how to properly skim so that I can comprehend all of the important information. I will also use these steps in my future reading to save time.
DeleteI completely agree with the recovery time comment. As students, we have a lot of things to juggle in and out of school. Some of us have jobs or sports and school just makes things even more crammed. It is important to set a day or two to just cool off and relax, to get back on track without stressing out.
DeleteI agree with you! Learning that skimming is actually acceptable will benefit me greatly! I was also always taught that skimming was unacceptable. I also agree with you about goal setting! Goal setting is a great way to accomplish many things and stay on track!
DeleteThese articles were helpful in explaining efficient ways to read. I, along with most of the comments here, agree that we have been taught and drilled to read every word. It seems wrong to just skip over some words, but skimming gives you an understanding of the point a certain section is trying to make without taking up too much time. Skimming will save time in the future, so i can focus on the important aspects of the passage, not every little word and detail.
ReplyDeleteThe video included five important things to keep in mind during the school year. The most important, in my opinion, was the setting of goals. It's hard to just go about your buisness without a set plan. Also, completing these goals gives you a sense of accomplishment, and maybe gives you incentive to go on to the next goal. Recovery time is also huge, because we have lives outside of school that we need to focus on too. With in-school and out-of-school activities, we have to set aside time to relax and recharge for the upcoming tasks. these tips are important for school, but can be used in the real world daily.
The tip to set goals was also important to me also; when doing that it does give us motivation to strive to do better. A lot of times we may feel overwhelmed with all that seniors have going on over the course of the year. With simple planning and goal-setting, a lot of our confusion can be eliminated.
DeleteI agree with setting goals for yourself to complete a task. Setting goals allows someone to aspire toward something; and like you said, "completing these goals gives you a sense of accomplishment." Recovery time is another big tip I plan on using this year, sometimes you keep going and going and end up running yourself dry.
DeleteI, too, feared that skimming through passages wouldn't help me understand the points being explained. I felt I would come away with nothing learned. But after reading the article, I gathered skimming is a time-saver and an easy way to find out the main idea(s) of the passage without reading and studying every single word.
DeleteI definitely agree with you Andrew! I was always taught that skimming was a bad thing but if done properly it is really effective. I also agree with u that these tips are really efficient and can help any reader grasp the main concept of any novel. I also tend to feel like I have to read every word in order to gather information but with these new strategies I can skim through several paragraph without risking my comprehension skills.
DeleteIt's great that I am able to find this information around the time that I am applying to colleges. Although I was familiar with some of the ideas in the Getting to Know Your Textbooks article, I learned some new things. One thing that I saw was that in order to read well, one must read with a purpose. One article emphasized the importance of avoiding distractions when reading, and yet another discussed why and how reading rates vary while clarifying some myths. Some of the information was general and well-known, but others were new and interesting to discover.
ReplyDeleteThe video was also great. It gave advice that some people have heard before, but may have never known where or how to apply it in life. The speaker also explains the importance of following these tips and how to go about it. I liked the know your strengths tip because I feel that is very important. Knowing your strengths allows you to know and believe in what you CAN do, and assists you in limiting yourself from trying for the things that you CAN'T do (which will help you avoid disappointment). All in all, the articles and video can be beneficial to anyone, especially for somebody preparing to get into college.
I agree with you that this information is useful around the college application season. Sometimes it can be hectic reading long passages of information, but now with these helpful hints it shouldn't be as tedious. In addition, I also felt that the tip to read with a purpose is helpful when reading SAT passages. A lot of times, the passages are boring and we are filled with confusion when reviewing them. If we start with the attitude that "this information could be interesting", it might come easier to us.
DeleteI agree that being given this article as we are about to enter college has help tremendously. I also found the fact that we are suppose to reading with a purpose, interesting. Before these articles I didn't know that before we began reading we should prepare some key question to answer while reading in order to understand the passage better. Hopefully I will be able to apply this tip to my reading in the future to maybe better grasp the information in the passage.
DeleteThroughout elementary school my teachers often classified me as a good student, but also very easily distracted. I can definitely attribute that to reading long passages of text and zoning out through the middle of it. The main reason was because I was reading word for word, and was taught that was the correct way to read; there was no skimming, browsing, or cursory glance at pages in textbooks. After reading myth no. 2, "Reading Once is Enough", I can also admit that I am guilty of that. A lot of times I will read a passage slowly in order to retain the information. Instead of doing this, I end up boring myself and being lost in the text. I now understand that skimming and devoting more time to reviewing the main parts is what is imperative.
ReplyDeleteAs I was watching the video, “How to Balance School and Work: 5 Strategies for Academic Success”, I came across a few tips that I should undoubtedly use for myself. The first one that seemed to speak to me was the tip to know one’s strengths. I have always seemed to pinpoint my weaknesses in order to learn to strengthen them, or stay away from anything that might entail them. This video suggests that although knowing weaknesses are good, knowing one’s strengths have been proven to show even more of an effect on an outcome. The second suggestion was to remain positive and in a happy attitude. I believe that this tip would most likely help me the most, because I often get a negative outlook on things once I feel that I have too much schoolwork or too many tasks in general to complete. Overall, from the article and the video I have learned many tips to help me keep focused throughout the school year and in college.
I agree that you should stay positive and keep a good outlook. When in school I think it is very important to stay positive in order to accelerate and be successful. When you stay positive you will do much better than you will with a negative attitude.
DeleteI liked the advice on knowing one's strengths and keeping positive too, seeing as those are things I often have trouble doing. It is easy for anybody to point out their weaknesses, but acknowledging strength makes one even stronger. Being positive is also important, and something I need to keep in mind because I often let things get me down, but that is not the way to go about it, and I liked that it was mentioned.
DeleteLike yourself, I am also guilty of reading every detail of a reading and I agree that skimming is a very essential so you will not bore yourself by reading. I also agree with about pinpointing your weakness and strengthening them because it is very important to push yourself since the end result will be great.
DeleteI totally agree Nik! I used to zone out completely because of long passages that were uninteresting. Learning other ways to read but still retain the information was extremely helpful. I will also use these tips to my benefit!
DeleteEver since I discovered the method of skimming through textbooks my notes have improved dramatically, but after reading the articles I understand there is much more to practice. For example, I never would have thought to ask myself what's the main answer I'm looking for as Dr. Perry suggested during his research. Extending out on myth 6 in the article, which states the brain slows down your attempt to skim fast, I believe requires much practice. If the brain is conditioned to read slowly, specifically so doesn't miss any important facts, then retraining it will take much practice.
ReplyDeleteIn the video Debra Levy suggested one should ignore their weaknesses and focus on using their strength, but I disagree. If one already knows their strength, why spend time focusing on it? Whereas improving any weaknesses can help in the future when the specific strength has no use. There will always be room to advance any education. However, one statement by Levy I do agree on was remembering to take time to recover. Being bombarded with work takes a toll on a person, both mentally and physically. Using a rest period is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
I had to rewatch the video to hear what Debra Levy said about recognizing one's strengths, and I see what you mean. One is supposed to know both their strengths and weakness, but one should improve on weakeness in order to have more strengths. I feel if one focuses more on strengths and is less conscious of weaknesses, there won't be any sign of improvement.
DeleteI agree completely with you completely Alaysia. I've never taken the time before reading something to ask myself what it is exactly I'm looking for and I feel like that can help you save a lot of time. I also agree with understanding your weaknesses to improve them instead of ignoring them completely.
DeleteI totally agree with you Alaysia. Like yourself I have always applied the skimming method; however, until now I did not know the proper way to skim. I also did not catch what Debra Levy had said at first but as I re watch the video I actually agree with that statement and apply that to my life on a daily. I believe she means that you should not ponder on the little thing you may be bad at, but to learn from your weaknesses so that you can make them strengths.
DeleteThese articles really helped me out, and I wish I had these sooner. I personally hated reading word for word in long texts, only to forget everything I just read after because there was so much to read. Its great to see one of the top colleges in America giving tips to its incoming students. If I was an incoming freshman to Dartmouth, I’d be relieved to see a section on their website that was trying to help me with my reading. I found that skimming through the text and just jotting down key points on sticky notes way more effective, both in time, and in understanding.
ReplyDeleteThe videos on the page are not working for me, but I can see what they are about by reading other classmates posts. I totally agree that it is important to set goals and space things out, so you do not cram yourself with workloads. The video also says that it is very important to keep a positive outlook on your work, because your work will be much better if you have a positive attitude towards it. I believe now that my reading, and work in general will go by much smoother because of these articles.
I fully back your statement of jotting key points on sticky notes. For me, I would skim a paragraph and then write a little note of what it was on. Another tip I would suggest is highlighting when possible, this takes less time then writing and is helpful when you go back to re-read the passage.
DeleteI definitely agree that setting goals is very important. Without goals, it is easy to get distracted and get off track. Goal setting is a great way to maintain focus and eventually achieve things quickly and efficiently.
DeleteThroughout school I have been taught skimming isn't a skill that should be used and that readings should be read from start to finish. However, I have always been one of those students who cannot get through an entire reading without getting distracted or bored. Over the years I have took it upon myself to skim even though I was taught not to because I knew I wouldn't make it through the readings reading every single word and line. Reading this packet and seeing that skimming is a great skill to use made me feel better about "cheating" the skills and skimming anyway. It was also interesting to see how skipping an entire paragraph when you feel it has no importance is okay. I don't always skip over whole paragraphs, but when I have a pressing time limit, I do skip.
ReplyDeleteWatching the video "5 Strategies for Academic Success:Using Your Strengths" made me a little bit less stressed. I have always been hard on myself to do well but have never took the time to evaluate myself to find my biggest strengths. Reading the title and seeing " Using Your Strengths" made me realize that if I did take the time to recognize mine and use them to better myself and my school work, my life would be a whole lot easier. Also, the tip to set goals for yourself has always been part of my strategy through conquering each school year and heavy workload. I always have the same top goal each year which is to get all A's. I know that even if a class is hard an A is possible if I work at it. This video has been very helpful in reassuring me that setting goals is good to do and it also showed me new tips that will definitely be useful to use since college is a year away.
I agree and believe that finding your strengths can be extremely beneficial. Using your strengths can be very helpful and may help with my work as well as to help better me. It helps not only with your work but with your confidence level because you are then doing better in school.
DeleteI agree with you Haley. I tend to get very bored or zone out while reading, always unintentionally though. After reading these articles, it seems like skimming just keeps you sort of awake and alert for what it is you're actually looking for, as apposed to reading the same l long passage over and over to understand what's going on.
DeleteThe articles were helpful to me but only to a certain extent. People read as fast as they can and gather as much as they can but it also depends on the writer and how he/she writes his/her book. I found that myth #5 was most helpful. Students try and cram as much information as they can as fast as they can and focus more on the thought of what they are doing and not what they are reading and that realization opened my eyes to notice that this is something that I do.
ReplyDeleteSome tips that are good for studying is to repeat your notes over and over and link each note to a specific memory or item. This makes it easier to retain your notes in your memory by linking certain notes with certain things you see everyday. Repeating your notes is also a good method. Naturally, if people repeat something in their heads over and over, they remember after a certain period of time. So I find repetition and personal connections to be ideal tips for studying and retaining information.
I totally agree with the whole repetition thing in order to memorize information. I always do that and it is very helpful for tests and quizzes. I also agree with the connections. I always tend to make personal connections in order to memorize certain things.
DeleteI definitely agree that making personal connections is a great way to retain information. For example, I break down difficult vocabulary and connect them words that I already know and have control over. Also, I like to try and relate to the topic that i'm reading about to not only better remember the information, but to understand it , as well.
DeleteSome of the tips and strategies mentioned in the articles and video I use myself and I'm happy I now have better justification for my methods. After reading, it made me ponder about the strategies I use to read and study. Unless they're interesting, long passages give me a tough time. Sometimes I lose my place and re-read sentences or I lose enthusiasm to finish. With studying, it's hard for me to focus on the material and I end up reviewing little or nothing. However, these articles helped me overcome fears I have with reading, such as skimming through long sections and re-reading passages to at least get the main idea. The video helped me realize I needed to the make the most of my school year by planning and having a positive attitude.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with some of the strategies for reading, tips for being successful in school, and the techniques for studying. Nevertheless, I found specific tactics unnecessary. For example, the 3R's and the SQ3R Method might be good for some people, but I don't see the need for there to be a set way to study. A person should study the way they feel comfortable. As for the video, Debra Levy had some good tips of her own, like making recovery time and setting specific goals. All in all, there are definitely some strategies I would use and that would be a benefit to me.
I agree with your statement about long passages giving you a hard time. Sometimes I sit there and re-read over and over and still get lost. Skimming has definitely helped me through reading textbooks and long passages. Highlighting is something I highly recommend when available because it helps me see the important parts of a passage when I look at it again.
DeleteI agree with your statement on studying. Everyone studies differently and everyone uses certain methods to retain information easier. I personally find that in science or history, and even with vocab, the only way I can retain terms and their meanings is if I repeat the word and definition over and over until I have it memorized.
DeleteI do the same things Rachael, I take a long time read things if I don’t like them or don’t find them interesting. I always start to wonder, when will I be done, or how many pages do I have left? It becomes really hard for me to understand everything from the book, because I am just thinking about when I will be done reading. I now can skim through books, so I can get through them faster, while still understanding the book.
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ReplyDeleteSome of the tips and strategies I have read and discussed were found in the video, “5 Strategies for Academic Success.” One specific point I plan on implementing in my studies is recovery time. Everyday I wake up at the crack of dawn to get to school and work all day. For most students, after school is relax and homework time where I go to soccer practice. After a three hour workout or game, I get very tired but carry on to complete my coursework. Sometimes, I seem to zombie read or write where one has no idea what they are doing because they are so tired. Taking a break every so often to eat a light snack or listen to some music is definitely one tool I will be using this year. Many of these other strategies listed have worked for me positively during my time at high school and I am now willing to try fitting in all of these tips when I complete schoolwork.
ReplyDeleteSome of the best advice I have received for studying and reading is from a college student when I was taking a two-week summer college course where I had to read a 300 page textbook. This student told me to skim the passages, highlight any bolded or italicized words, and go back and re-read the chapter. This advice helped me read at least fifty pages or more every night and leaving some free time to relax and recover. Highlighting allows me to return to the book and flip through the pages to see the important material. Another piece of advice I received at this course was when you finish writing or studying a paper, you should close it for at least half an hour and complete another task. After time is up re-read your materials to catch any errors in your writing or to solidify the study topic. These tips I received have helped me through my high school career.
Zombie-reading and -writing is a great way to describe how most students read and write, whether tired from a long day or just bored and distracted. I am certainly guilty of doing it. But from the video, I learned making out time to recover is essential in times of stress. By doing small things as you mentioned like listening to music, recovery time could help in the long run and one would be less stressed everyday.
DeleteSam I agree, as a student athlete I catch myself zombie-reading and -writing as well. I also agree that taking that recovery time will help not only you but other students to achieve higher grades based on text information. Although I have to get better at highlighting key facts I hope that I do learn just as you have.
DeleteAfter reading the two assigned articles and watching the video, I came across strategies and methods that I both use and would like to try. I was surprised to see that some of the strategies in the articles are legitimate because I thought that I was just being lazy when using them. For example, one of the strategies that I have been using for quite some time now is skipping sections and words. I never thought of it as a strategy until now, but I started using it at the beginning of high school because I never felt the need to fully read a text to understand the main ideas. Since this strategy works for me, I will probably continue to use it throughout the course of my education.
ReplyDeleteIn the assigned video, I felt like the five tips were all useful. Although, one of the strategies stood out to me and it was the first, which was to know your strengths. I have always felt it was important to know my strengths, but it's also helpful to know your weaknesses, as well. With this knowledge, one would be able to use their strengths to succeed and build upon their weaknesses to eventually have their weaknesses to become their strengths. This not only applies to education, but to all aspects of life.
I Agree 100% with Galvin's agreement of the assigned video. Acknowledging your weakness is very important not only as a study tip but also a life tip. When you know what your weaknesses are you can plan accordingly to improve yourself. For example if you are a slow reader you may want to push yourself to read faster or use the finger method.
DeleteI Found theses articles to be very beneficial, especially the tip about skimming. Before I read that tip I was reading the articles word for word, and once I reached the tip I thought about it and decided to try it out. While skimming the rest of the articles I realized that doing so not only saved time, but I also retained the same amount of information as reading them word for word. I've heard of skimming before, but I never actually tried to do so.
ReplyDeleteThe easiest way for me to study is memorize the information. I found that the 3 R's of Academic Survival and the SQ3R had a few good tips that I either already implement in my studying or plan on doing so. One of the things that I plan on implementing in my studying habits is "RECORD'. Record is a technique where you make notes or underline important facts in a passage. I always say this as a waste time, but I will give it a try in the near future. I look forward to applying these techniques in college and throughout grad school.
Chris I agree with you, skimming has saved me a lot of time and I was also shocked about how much information I have retained. I also loved that they gave you the 3R's of Academic Survival and the SQ3R studying tips. I also will try them out not just in English but in other classes as well, or just everyday life.
DeleteChris, I totally agree with you. I saved so much time just skimming through and taking notes rather than reading the text word for word. The only bad thing about skimming through is that I find that I need to reread some parts to fully understand whats going on.
DeleteAfter reading the articles I learned a lot more about the skills of skimming important text. The most surprising fact from all the articles was the first article titled Harvard Report. It shocked me that only 15 of the top 1500 freshman enrolled in Harvard thought to read the summary and/or skimming down the descriptive flags in the margin. You never really realize how hard we are drilled to read every single word in the text until you read something like this. I personally never got the hang of skimming down because when I did so I could never pick out the important details. Thankfully these articles have made me realize a new form of "reading" .
ReplyDeleteThe article on the Six Reading Myths really surprised me because I too believed in almost all of those myths. My favorite to read was myth 3: It is sinful to skip passages in reading. The title alone caught my attention and after I was finished reading it I agreed; I was one of those student who too believed it was "sinful" to skip passages. I assume because I felt that if I skipped a passage I would miss an important detail that I may be questioned on later I felt as if I had to read the whole text.
Since we were in 6th grade, we were taught that skimming and rereading are the key to comprehending passages; however, these articles prove our teachers to be incorrect. I have always been the one to skim because when reading a book that's long you may lose interest and focus. As myth one states, "many of the words used in writing grammatically correct sentences actually convey no meaning". According this article for the past 5 years I have been skimming incorrectly. After reading the passages I was able to learn how to correctly skim.
ReplyDeleteFrom this article and the video I have learned, how to study correctly study. The 3 R's for Academic Survival is a tip for studying that I have applied to my study habits and I have ended up liking. On the other hand the SQ3R method is a method that I actually learned about last year and have not been interested in since. I think that this method is very time consuming and just doesn't help me grasp the information. Some of the tips stated in the video and in the article, are tips that I have not tried but have been recommended to use as I enter college. Thankfully this article has re insured me that these tip are going to be beneficial in college. I look forward to trying out these tips for the last year of high school and into college.
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DeleteI completely agree that long readings can get boring and cause me to lose interest. Skimming helps prevent me from "zoning out" so I can just pick out the main ideas. Skimming is a great strategy to make reading easier and less boring for those who don't like to.
DeleteI agree with you about the skimming, since I too have been skimming incorrectly and this article helped me to do it more efficiently. But I do disagree with you on the SQ3R method, because although I hundred percent respect your opinion I believe it is a more effective and efficient way to study material. It may be time consuming but I do believe it is worth to follow the steps, since they help you better comprehend the material.
DeleteAfter reading the Harvard Report, I discovered that not only was I guilty of all six reading myths, I hadn't even known there was an alternative way to reading and still comprehending. The only times I had ever been told to "skim" through a passage by a teacher, was if we were under a time constraint and he or she just wanted us to have a general understanding of what it was we were reading. But after reading the Harvard Report, I found that you don't have to read every single word in the text to understand fully, and you don't have to read every paragraph or passage. The myth I related to the most though was "Reading Once is Enough". I have always tended to re-read almost everything I read from pages to directions, just because my mind wanders very easy and before I know it, I have read an entire passage with no understanding of it whatsoever because my mind was elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI found the video to be profoundly helpful as well. All five tips really resonated with me but numbers one and four especially. Even though I'm familiar with all my strengths, I know my weaknesses even better and I feel like that's just as important. Knowing what you're good at and what you're not can help you set your goals better, which ties into tip number two. Being resilient and able to bounce back from a bad test or quiz can really help you have a more hopeful outlook on what it is you're learning, which ties into tip number three, being positive.
I agree with you about the skimming, because I too was told it is important to read every word so you would not miss any details, and this article helped me understand there is indeed an alternative. I also agree with you about relating to the myth of only reading once, because I too get distracted and have to reread passages.
DeleteThis article was very helpful and informative because it helped me realize why I read the way I do and how to become a quicker reader while still obtaining important information as I read. I'm positive that these strategies will aid me, along with anyone else who decides to apply these tips, become a better reader in a quicker amount of time. The article exposed quite a few of my flaws of reading such as: feeling guilty if I skip passages and don't read everything given, reading paragraphs twice because I didn’t gather “enough” information, and constantly quizzing myself as I read. I felt as if the article knew how I read before I even read the article.
ReplyDelete(2nd paragraph) These tips will certainly aid me in gathering information due to all the new strategies I've acquired. I learned that reading the heading and chapter titles is a very important concept in skimming. In addition, I've acknowledged that it is better to have a clear mind and not to worry too much about gathering information. I'm very content with the productivity of this article and all readers should try the tips of the article.
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ReplyDeleteThe Harvard Report was not only very intriguing to read, but it is also very beneficial in reading passages, articles and novels. The six reading myths the article discussed and the explanations behind them were very surprising and interesting, specifically Myth 3. This myth questioned the legitimacy of how awful it is to skip passages when reading but when in reality it is not. Many people including myself, are guilty of reading every passage in a reading word for word, so they will not miss any important information. But in most cases, not every passage is going to be helpful or informative, and it is up to you to decide which passages are worth focusing your time on.
ReplyDeleteAnother part of the article that I found very useful and fascinating was the " SQ3R Method for Thorough Study" which discussed steps for preeminent studying. This was very helpful to me, because more often than not, I have trouble with thoroughly studying material, because I get disorganized and do not know where to start. But this article went step by step in showing you the most efficient way to study. My personal favorite step of the method was Step 4: Recall, which was " Without looking at your book or notes, mentally visualize...the high points of the material..." The step will be extremely helpful in thoroughly understanding the material because it helps you check your understanding of what you are reading and forces you to think in a way, you usually would not. After reading this article, I will most definitely be using the SQ3R method and all the new tips I learned in the near future.
While I do agree with you on how the the information in myth 3 is helpful, I have an different view on the SQ3R Method. Though I understand how it can be beneficial to others, I feel as if it is very time consuming and can get uninteresting very quick. As it states in myth one, once you lose interest in the passage information it is hard to entirely grasp the information you are suppose to be retaining.
DeleteThe articles and video were extremely helpful. I wish I learned these tactics prior to entering high school.Learning how to properly skim yet still obtain useful information would have saved a significant amount of time. The 3 R's method seems to be very useful. Reading, recording, and reciting will be sure to save time and will also be a great study tool. The SQ3R method also seems to be helpful. I was unaware of all of the different ways to obtain information in a timely manner.
ReplyDeleteI will be sure to implement these techniques into my reading for the remainder of high school and into college. Reading every word of different texts wasted an ample amount of time. Reading about the different myths were very insightful. I believed some of the myths to be true, prior to reading the article. The article and video were very helpful and provided a lot of information I will be able to use in the near future. (Ms.B, I posted this on my blog yesterday already, I'm just re-posting it here in case you didn't see it.)