QUICK TIPS PRIOR TO READING

• Survey The Information: Look at the information (Chapter Headings, Summaries, Questions at the end of the chapter) this will give you: 1) an idea of what the chapter entails 2) be able to gauge the difficulty of the material that you are reading.
• Time Management:    Decide on the amount of time you will spend reading the material prior to taking a break (especially if the information is difficult).
• Speed Reading May Not Be For Everyone:   This depends on the information and the extent of your reading comprehension and/or vocabulary.

How To Increase Your Reading Rate:

Take a this Speed Reading Test

• Visit the O.A.S. Computer Lab:  The lab offers Ace Reader.  This speed reading software offers a variety of exercises that will increase your reading speed and comprehension.
• Motivation:    This will only improve based upon the amount of time you are willing to put in.  In order for you to improve this you must practice your speed reading on a consistent basis.
• Try To Understand The Concepts:   When reading try to get an understanding of the information or the main point, instead of reading each word (this takes up too much time).
• Avoid Reading Out Loud:  This causes you to read at the rate of your speech which can slow you down.  You can read more than 2 times faster than you can speak.
• Avoid Reading Every Word:   Do not focus on every word/letter that you are reading.  This is another way that will slow down your reading rate significantly.
• Avoid Regression:    When you complete reading a line avoid re-reading words/lines that you have already read.
• Test Yourself:   After reading a paragraph, a couple of pages, or a section, write down a couple of questions that you feel could be on your quiz/exam.
• Pace Yourself:    Use your finger, pencil, or a pen and lightly go across each line that you are reading.  As you become more comfortable, move down the middle of the page.
• Practice:   Try to work on your pace first, and comprehension second.  Try doing this with a newspaper or magazine-reading each line and as you become more proficient,  try reading from the middle of the line and moving straight down.
• Implement these strategies : Take the Speed Reading Test again to see how your reading rate has improved!

For additional information you may want to visit these websites:

http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/personal.reading.imprvmnt.html

http://www.studyhall.com/sread.htm