Reading effectively is more than just skimming through pages—it’s about engaging with the material to fully understand and remember it. Whether you’re tackling a textbook or a scholarly article, these tips will help you read with purpose and retain what you’ve learned.

Basics of Reading 

• SCAN the text before you start reading 
• READ the text carefully 
• REVIEW what you’ve read to check your learning 

Scanning 

Scanning will give you an idea of what to expect when you start reading.   

• Look over the assigned section before starting to read 
• Note the section headings and topics to be covered 
• Pay attention to any Bold italicized or underlined words 
• Pay attention to any charts or or pictures  

Reading 

• Read one section/paragraph at a time 
• Make sure you grasp all concepts before you move on 
• Turn section headings into questions- then use the corresponding section to answer that question 
• Make sure to read captions on pictures and boxes that are separated from the main text 

Review 

• Check your understanding once you’ve read through the assigned reading 
• What is the main purpose? 
• What key concepts were included? 
• How do the key concepts relate to each other? 
• Take down some notes about the reading to review later  
• Answer any review questions at the end of the chapter to see which concepts you still need to review