Reading

Much of your learning involves reading, so it is vital that you read efficiently and selectively. You will be given required reading, suggested reading, and also be expected to do your own research and reading for specific topics and assignments. Reading overload is a common feeling students experience.

Strategies to develop academic reading skills

Keep reading focused

Check with unit outlines and reading lists to keep on track. Reading ahead will help you understand your lectures better. Approach your lecturer for help early if a problem arises with your understanding of the material.

Read selectively

• Decide when it is appropriate to skim or scan. Will margin notes help you? Conserve your time and energy by choosing how to read for each task.
• Scan titles, contents pages, headings etc to select the most relevant material.
• Read again for introductions, key words, conclusions, summaries etc to choose the most relevant parts for detailed reading.

Read critically

• Question everything! Who is the author? What are his/her credentials? Do you agree with the viewpoint presented? How does the information relate to your experience? What cultural assumptions are being made?
• You may be given readings that contradict each other and be asked to evaluate them. You will most likely be asked to respond to texts.
• Read with some questions in mind - this helps you retain and understand what you are reading.

Seek out additional sources

Independent learning in Australia is highly valued. Your reading lists will have required reading texts and may have references for wider reading. Additional reading will give you a better understanding of your topic.

• Review newspapers and journals regularly. This will broaden your knowledge of current trends and develop your skills in evaluating different genres.
• Read the most respected authors of your discipline.
• Ask your lecturers for advice on the 'great' books.
• Buy a discipline-specific dictionary to build your professional vocabulary

Read actively with a pen in hand

Make summary notes as you go (remember to note reference details to save frustration later). Highlight important points, quotes etc.

Plan your reading

Organise your information into a logical plan which addresses your question, and in the process see if further material is needed. Sometimes students keep reading more and more in order to avoid the actual writing process!

Identify main ideas of texts

Write a summary of chapters or texts read. Organise the main, secondary, tertiary ideas. This gives practice in sorting out the main ideas from the subordinate material.

Familiarise yourself as rapidly as possible with the author's cultural codes

International students who watch the national and local news, follow the current events etc benefit from a better understanding of assumed meanings. Lecturers in Australia often illustrate their points with local examples. If possible, relate these examples to your own experiences and cultures and share your cultural experiences with others.

Don't rely on dictionaries

If you are unfamiliar with vocabulary, read on and guess the meaning from the context. If you cannot understand the text check the dictionary but don't look up every word.

Improve your reading rate whilst maintaining comprehension

Force yourself to read faster for short bursts every day (10-15 minutes). Slow down if you can't recall what you have read. Work on developing your vocabulary.

Adapted from work by Denise Mulligan, Curtin University of Technology.