What good readers do

• Know why you are reading the text - decide before you start and keep the purpose in mind as you read.

• Read in different ways depending on your purpose - scan a text to get a quick overview of its content; skim read a text to find specific information; grapple with the detail to improve your understanding of the topic.

• Read through a text once in order to get a general idea of its meaning and content. Then re-read it, take notes, add margin comments or highlight particular sections.

• Pay attention to the structure of a text to help you to understand the writer's purpose and argument. Take notice of headings and sub-headings, of opening and closing paragraphs and of other signposts the writer has provided.

• Ask questions of text and of yourself as you read.

• Accept that sometimes you need to re-read in order to check your understanding, to reconsider particular points of interest or importance and to add to your notes.

• If you find something difficult to understand, say the words in your head or aloud as a way of unravelling the meaning. Draw sketches or diagrams as a way of getting hold of the meaning.

• Try to understand rather than just memorise what you read. This effort to understand is itself an aid to memorising.

• Good readers are critical readers. Test the writer's argument against your own previous knowledge and experience.

(adapted from B551, The Manager's Helpfile)