Efficient reading

1
Efficient reading

• A matter of concentration

2
Concentration

• Imagine driving a car at 20 kilometers per hour
  vs. driving at 200 kilometers per hour.
• Reading is the same.
• Concentration requires energy
• Health, rest, physical mental well-being are
  all important.
• Rest breaks are important
• Rewards are important

3
How fast should you read?

• Native English Speakers
• 250 wpm with 70 comprehension for average adult
• 300 wpm with 70 comprehension for college
  students

4
Distractions

• External
• People talking
• Telephone
• Music
• Internal (more difficult to control)
• Thoughts
• Other things you need to do
• Mind wandering

5
Increasing Reading Speed

• Be Aggressive
• Be active.
• Look for Meaning.
• Drive for the main idea.

6
Increasing Reading Speed

• Concentrate
• Focus on Meaning.
• Consider Your Purpose.
• Be attentive.
• Visualize (use imagination and five senses)

7
Increasing Reading Speed

• Stop Regressions
• Regressions are when you reread what you have
  already read
• Keep your mind from wandering.
• Pay attention during the first reading.
• Reread only when necessary such as when the
  material is complex

8
Increasing Reading Speed

• Reduce Vocalization
• This is moving your lips when you read.
• Subvocalization is when you hear the voice in
  your head.
• Put a paper in front of your lips to see if it
  moves.
• You read with your mind, not your mouth.
• Subvocalization can be very helpful for difficult
  and complex reading

9
Increasing Reading Speed

• Expand Fixations
• Identify Thought Units.
• Read in Phrases.
• Decrease Fixations.

10
Increasing Reading Speed

• Use a Pen as a Pacer
• Set a Rhythmical pace.
• Move the Pen from Left to Right.
• Make a Z Pattern with Return Sweeps.

11
Increasing Reading Speed

• Preview Before Reading
• Think About the Title.
• Look for Key Words and Phrases.
• Read the Boldface and Italic Type.
• Make Predictions.
• Decide What You Want to Learn.
• Activate Your Schema.

12
Increasing Reading Speed

• Set a Time Goal
• Estimate Words per Page.
• Calculate Projected Reading Speed.
• Pace Yourself.
• Make Your Goal Realistic.

13
Increasing Reading Speed

• Be Flexible
• Adjust Speed According to Purpose.
• Skim When Necessary.
• Slow Down for Difficult
• Material.

14
Increasing Reading Speed

• Practice
• Read Every Day.
• Practice Faster Reading Techniques.
• Be Willing to Try.

15
The Open, Window by Saki
16
Saki (1870-1916)

• Hector Hugh Munro
• or H. H. Munro
• British
• Born in Burma
• Joined Indian Imperial Police
• Fought and died in WW1 as an ordinary soldier
• Master of the short story
• Write about ironies of society
• A closet homosexual
• Read Tobermory

17
(No Transcript)
18
(No Transcript)
19
(No Transcript)
20
(No Transcript)
21
From a high school play based on this story.