The Reading Process

A Basic Process:

• Before You Read

• While You Read

• After You Read

Reading and Writing Processes:

• Linear?

• Recursive?

• Webbed?

The "SQ3R" Method:

Before:

• Survey

• Question

During:

• Read

After:

• Recite

• Review

Another Reading Process:

Before:

• Previewing -- overviewing, skimming -- for length, organization, headings, visual features, etc.

• Previewing -- for subject matter and structure, facts of publication, facts about the author, your preliminary response, etc.

During:

• Reading

• Writing While Reading -- in the text and in the margins -- underlining, circling, using arrows, numbering, annotating, taking notes, outlining, summarizing, paraphrasing, responding, questioning, connecting, etc. -- NOT "highlighting"

After:

• Rereading

• Summarizing

• Analyzing

• Interpreting

• Synthesizing

• Evaluating

How to Read Our Higher Learning Selections:

• Skim everything quickly.

• Read the headnote and pre-reading questions carefully and think about them.

• Read slowly and carefully.

• Take notes during or after -- main ideas, agreements/disagreements, likes/dislikes, your own ideas, etc.

• Read the post-reading questions carefully and think about them.

Other Notes:

"Reading should be ACTIVE, not PASSIVE."

"READ like a writer.  WRITE like a reader."