| There are many speed reading programs which | | | | a complete beginner. If this isn't clear on the front, |
| claim to increase your ability to read fast and | | | | look at the back cover the blurb on the inside of |
| retain information, but before you spend your | | | | the cover. |
| hard earned cash or student loan, there are | | | | This is useful in a library full of specialist titles. You |
| several tips which can speed up the time you | | | | will be able to identify which books are pitched at |
| spend with your nose in a text book. | | | | the right level for you. |
| Tip #1 Make Sure you know why you are reading | | | | Tip # 3 - Next Stop - the table of contents |
| This might sound obvious, but it is important to | | | | You need to know if the book covers the exact |
| have a precise reason for reading a book or text. | | | | topics you are interested in or need to learn |
| Although you might be aware of the general | | | | about for your assignment. If the subject is not |
| reason - it's related to an assignment or a teacher | | | | of interest to you, but a requirement of your |
| recommended that you read the book, you need | | | | course, you will want to spend as little time as |
| to be more specific. | | | | possible reading about it. So ensuring you have |
| So think about the questions you want the | | | | the right reading material is crucial. |
| material to answer for you. If you are going to | | | | Tip #4 Read the large print |
| write an essay, which part of the essay will this | | | | Most people forget to read the small print but |
| help you to write? If you are trying to understand | | | | with textbooks and online articles, the place to |
| something, how do you think this book or report | | | | start is with the large print. This means the |
| will help you do that? | | | | headings and subheadings and you should quickly |
| If you know what you are looking for, the key | | | | scan the text to read these first. This will help |
| words which will lead you to that information will | | | | you identify the important chapters and sections |
| jump out at you as the scan the material. | | | | of those chapters which you need to read. |
| Tip #2 Before you open a book, read the cover | | | | Tip#5 Make notes |
| You are always told not to judge a book by its | | | | Make a note of all the important facts and write |
| cover, but the cover can still give you some idea | | | | down the references and any quotations you |
| of the audience this book is aimed at - you will | | | | want to use in your assignment. This will save you |
| probably be able to tell from the cover if it is | | | | a huge amount of time. How often have you half |
| aimed at a specialist audience, someone with an | | | | remembered a quotation but forgotten where it |
| intermediate knowledge of the subject matter or | | | | came from? |