Engaging with the text

Active Reading techniques

Read it more than once.

We are never in exactly the same state of mind every time we approach a text. No matter what, every time you sit down to read or study, you are coming from a different angle. If you approach the text more than once, you will pick up on different details and support each time. Twice is good, three times is best.

Drop the Highlighter, Pick up a pen.

When you read through for the first time make a few marginal notes as you go to identify familiar and unfamiliar portions of the text. This will help you to identify areas that you will need to go back and concentrate on later. By underlining instead of highlighting, commenting in the margins, questioning as you read, and using your own unique code such as stars, exclamation points, and question marks, you engage yourself more fully with the text as you read.

Dialogue with the text.

ask questions make comments jot down ideas and statements that come to mind as you read.

Do the Says and Does exercise.

During your second reading, use the margins to summarize the main idea of each paragraph. Then identify the function of each paragraph:
does it introduce the main idea? Is it a transitional paragraph? Does it offer supporting details for a main point? How? Does it provide examples, give statistics, offer an example, appeal to the reader's emotions?

This technique is also known as Glossing.

Try the Dual-entry journal.

Fold a piece of paper lengthwise.
On one side, write down portions of the text which catch your attention, whether it be an unfamiliar word, a particularly effective turn of phrase, or a quote that may be useful later. On the other side, write down the reason you wrote down that particular quote/phrase/word, your reaction to that quote, or the definition of the word.

By doing this you engage yourself with the text by reading and writing about it, as well as reacting to it once you're done with the initial read.

Summarize and Respond.

Once you've finished reading the article, pull out a fresh piece of paper and write down a summary of what you just read.
What was the authors thesis? What were the main points? What kind of support did s/he provide? Facts? Testimonials?examples?

Then, write out a your personal reaction to the reading.

Did you agree? Disagree? What did the author do that was particularly effective? Where did the author fall short? What did you like/dislike about the piece? Why?

Take Breaks.
You don't have to absorb the entire piece in one sitting. Remove yourself from the text and think about what you've read before going back and reading further. After doing your summary/response, wait until the next day to go back and see what points you missed.

By engaging with the text, you become a stronger reader

Reading is a complex process and unless you have a photographic memory, these active reading techniques should help you as you prepare for the daily lecture, the pop quiz, or the midterm, as well as helping you to retain information more effectively for your writing.