How to Comprehend Reading

It may not be a problem to comprehend a romance novel or the sports page of the paper. But with more complicated materials, you'll often find yourself undergoing the MEGO effect (My Eyes Glaze Over). Reading comprehension involves concentration and the ability to connect words with ideas. There are many strategies you can use to better understand what you're reading.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Figure out what your purpose is in reading the material. Sometimes you'll have an assignment that can guide your comprehension strategies. Or you may need to read a text to complete a certain task. Write down and/or underline key concepts of your goal so your subconscious knows what to look for.
2. Glance through the table of contents in a textbook or nonfiction work. Skimming the headings and visuals of an academic article can also help. You'll comprehend what you're reading better when you set your mind up for the topics and vocabulary the work is discussing.
3. Consult dictionaries and encyclopedias when appropriate, especially for concepts that keep coming up and aren't defined in the text. The OneLook and Encyclopedia websites search across multiple sources, including subject specific, which can give a more comprehensive explanation of the concept.
4. Highlight or underline important passages and concepts. It's important to understand effective marking so you don't drown the text in colors and lines. On a first reading, highlight or underline key phrases that draw your eye to the text.
5. Interact with the text by making notes in the margins, if possible. Or use index cards for paraphrasing information and writing your own ideas. Note the author's last name, abbreviation of the source and page number where the information occurs if you're working with multiple sources.
6. Read the chapter, article or relevant parts in a longer work more than once. Highlight or underline longer passages, especially lines you may want to quote in a paper. Notice your reactions to the text and add new ideas as they occur to you. You'll gain greater comprehension as you interact multiple times with the text.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the chapter summary first, if there is one, to help you comprehend what you're about to read.
• Don't get too caught up in passages you don't understand as they may be clarified later.

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