How to Read Quickly and Effectively

Sail through the barrage of information out there by using some key reading and skimming skills.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dictionaries
• Bookmarks
• Clip-on Book Light
• Highlighter Pens

1. Read different materials at different speeds: Skim or speed-read less important items, and save critical or difficult works for when you are most alert and have time.

2. Pick out the main ideas of a book by reading its cover flaps and scanning the table of contents. Use the index to quickly locate key words.

3. Survey the layout of your reading material. Look at the title and the boldface section headings, and piece together the logical flow of the paper. This framework will guide you in reading the piece more carefully.

4. If you need to skim, try reading the first sentence of each paragraph (which usually is the topic sentence) to get a general idea of its content.

5. Practice reading more quickly by moving your index finger down a row of text at a speed slightly faster than your normal reading speed.

6. Highlight or underline sparingly so the truly useful information doesn't get lost.

7. Jot down quick notes, questions or thoughts that will make it easier to refer to the material later. Taking notes also makes for active reading and better retention of important points.

Tips & Warnings

• Increasing your vocabulary will improve your reading speed.
• Sign up for a speed-reading course or seminar ' many are available.
• Pare down your office reading to include only the most essential items. For example, try assigning subordinates to sift through material and mark only what is relevant so that you have a reduced reading list.

[jinseubshin]

on 8/22/2008 I'm a foreign person who wishes to read quickly of English. give me the tips

[qraccoon07]

on 4/17/2007 Like the guy above said start watching TV with captions. I don't read many books, but I watch a lot of Anime that I need to read fast cause I don't know much Japanese. My reading score went from a 23 to a 33 on the ACT in less than a year. When I got back to school from summer break it was incredible to see how fast I compared to my peers. Once you get better try doing something while watching. I play around on my guitar. Get something foreign. Something that you wouldn't understand unless you read it like foreign martial arts movies.

on 11/22/2005 When you're watching TV, put on the closed captioning. Also, try to get a book along with an audio book, and follow the words with your eyes as you listen.

on 11/22/2005 Whenever I am reading and I run into a word I don't understand, I try putting myself into the character's situation. It gives me a better understanding and a platform to build off of for when I go to look the word up in a dictionary. It makes reading books a little easier.

on 11/22/2005 I am a speed reader. When I read I skim the page to see if it has important information. If it does I go back and read it. If not I skim it once more quickly and then go on.