How to Improve Reading Comprehension - Knowledge Activation

We read different types of texts every day. InTry to figure out what is the main idea of the
the most cases we are not just reading for fun,text. What does the author want to tell to the
but we want to obtain new information.readers? What the most important facts to
Unfortunately, we forget a big portion of it later.remember?o Discuss the text with others.
Study results indicate that an average manRetelling a story to friend is a great way to
forgets 50% of the acquired information in thememorize it. This is a very good idea if you are
first hour after reading. One day later he is ablepreparing for exams. Discuss study material and
to recall only 10% of the text. This is a hugequestion each other with your course mates and
problem if you need to remember the contentyour study process will become more efficient.o
well, for example if you are studying for exams inVisualize knowledge. Draw a mind map, which is a
college.hand written diagram connecting the keywords.
Is it possible to do something for preventingThere are several options for doing it. Most simple
forgetting? Yes, it is, but we have to change ourversion is that you write down keywords and for
reading habits. There are three areas you caneach keyword you will think out terms that are
improve:o Preparation for reading. Being fresh andassociated with it and you connect them with
relaxed will improve your comprehension.lines.
Previewing the text before reading it will also helpIn addition to knowledge activation you need to
you to remember it better.o Reading techniques.revise the text for remembering it well in the
If you want to memorize information then youfuture. As revision consumes time I will not tell
have to read in a way that your thoughts areyou that you have to read all texts repetitively.
focused to the text. Avoid distractions whileRevise only the most important texts.
reading. If you let your thoughts to drift awayIt is a good idea to revise text on the following
from the text then you will not remember whatday after reading them. Revision does not mean
you have read well.o Post-reading activities. It isthat you have to read again the whole text.
possible to prevent forgetting by activating ourInstead of that, look at the keywords you wrote
knowledge after completion of reading.down or study the mind map you drew. Try to
In this article I will focus on knowledge activationfind out what you will remember and what you
methods. For doing it you have to put your newlyhave forgotten. Then look through the text at
acquired information into some type of application.fast pace, stopping and reading it only for those
There are many options for doing it:o Write downparts you have forgotten.
the keywords. If you have completed the textIf the text is very important for you then you
then take a sheet of paper and take a fewcan repeat that kind of revision process a week
minutes to write down keywords, which associatelater and the after two month. If you do so then
with the text. For example these can be "stockyou will remember the content well many years
options", "put" and "call" if the text is stockafter reading the text.
markets.o Ask yourself questions about the text?