Studying... It can feel like you’re in an ocean, lost in a sea of books and resources. And when you finally find the right book, reading it is... mysterious. It’s full of new things. It’s intimidating. Scroll down to watch the video and find out how to read with confidence!
Your map for reading success!
Having trouble with reading? You need a map! You need to know WHY you’re reading. And you need to read in different ways: quickly and slowly, for different purposes. Watch this video to find out how.
To do
Watch the video. See if you can pick out the four main tips about reading (write them down if you like). Then scroll down to check your answers.
6 top tips for better reading
You've nearly reached the end of this unit. At the bottom of this page you can find links to more useful study skills materials.
But before we finish, let's recap what we've learned about academic reading so far. Check to see if you identified all six pieces of advice.
- You need to know why you're reading – check if you're searching for specific information, preparing for an exam or an assignment.
- Read the conclusions first – it's not cheating! That way you will know if it will be helpful to read this material.
- Use features of the text to help you – check the contents, headings, images and summaries to gain a better understanding of the text.
- Try skimming (reading very quickly) – and scanning (looking for specific information like numbers, words, phrases or acronyms).
- Take notes while you read and really try to understand the text. Consider whether you agree or disagree with it.
- Keep a dictionary with you to look up key words. You could even make a glossary of key words and phrases.
Find out more
Visit The Open University to discover academic treasure – inspirational historical quotes about learning – just click on the link in the 'Where next?' section.
Where next?
