This workshop series gives students methods for reading effectively at the collegiate level. Reading in college is a different skill from regular reading, and this series provides tips and strategies for improving your college level reading abilities.
Before Reading Strategies
In the first week, the workshop is about learning and practicing strategies you can use before you read to make your reading more effective and efficient. This includes understanding the questions you need to answer that week, skimming sources to prioritize your reading, and drafting skeleton notes.
During Reading Strategies
In part two of the series, the workshop will cover strategies you can use during your reading. These strategies include optimizing your environment, learning to effectively skim a text, note taking strategies like the 5 R’s, and how to do close reading.
Skim: How to effectively skim a text
Skimming a chapter or article allows you to get a general idea of what will be covered and how the reading is organized.
Abstract/Summaries: If there’s an abstract or summary of the article, read that first.
Headings/Subheadings: Then look for headings and subheadings for clues about what each section is about.
Images/Captions: Next, consider the images and captions for information that might be important.
Emphasized Text: Read words that are emphasized by italics, bold, or color, and text boxes that emphasize a chunk of text.
First Sentence of Every Paragraph: If the reading contains none of these, read the first sentence of every paragraph.
Final tip: As you skim, look for your keywords from your assignments. Take what you learned from the titles of the pieces and learn more about the purpose of the readings.
After Reading Strategies
In part three of the series, the workshop will cover strategies for after reading. These after reading strategies include rereading and summarizing sources, starting your assignments after reading, teaching concepts you learned about to others, and properly reflecting on what you have read.
Applying Strategies to Different Types of Reading
In the final part of the series, the workshop will teach you strategies for different types of reading including math textbooks, humanities readings, and articles when you are performing a research assignment.
Analyze the Context
Learn more about your topic with background research
Consider the purpose of the reading
Think critically and analytically about the topics and issues you are asked to explore
Skills are things we learn, develop, and strengthen through practice over time. No one is born knowing how to be a college reader, reading at this level is a skill, not a talent, and that means it’s something everyone can learn. It’s completely normal to struggle at first or to feel unsure as you try new strategies. If these approaches don’t make everything easier right away, that doesn’t mean you’re doing them wrong; it just means you’re in the learning process. With patience, consistency, and practice, these strategies will start to feel more natural, and reading will become more manageable and more meaningful. Every time you apply these tools, you’re building confidence and gaining control over your learning, even if progress feels slow at first.
For more information on the concepts from today's workshop, check out these links:
ARC Guide: Find the Main Idea
ARC Guide: The Reading Process
ARC Guide: Know Your Audience
ARC Guide: How to Read a Research Article: A Reading Smarter, Not Harder, Strategy
Need More Help?
Want additional support? Sign up for our group sessions. Take a look at the full workshop schedule. For help signing up and accessing the Academic Support Center, see the How to Book ASC Sessions Page.