Reading Your Textbook

Have you ever fallen asleep while reading for a class and found your book either (a) stuck to you or (b) acting as a pillow?  You are not alone.  The average college student was not expected, in high school, to be responsible for nearly the amount of reading he/she is upon entering college.  In fact, the books themselves vary drastically due to the heavy emphasis on facts, ideas, and abstract concepts which make them much more "dense" than high school textbooks.  

The amount of reading required of a college student can often times seem daunting.  As a student you also have less time to read and comprehend your textbooks and the concepts because a collegiate semester is much shorter than a high school academic year.  Thus, you find yourself scrambling for time to read and comprehend those readings while staying awake or maintaining an interest. 

Have no fear, there are simple ways to combat the struggles of reading your textbook and make the most out of your efforts.

A lack knowledge on the subject/topic of your textbook can negatively impact your feelings about reading it, as well as your comprehension of the material in it.

• Suggestions: 
  • Purchase your textbooks early: You can email your professors to get the titles and ISBN numbers for books.
  • Preview your textbook: Read the table of contents and skim through the book itself to better understand the contents of it.  Check for key terms that you might be responsible for. 
  • Read the required chapters: Read prior to the class lecture.  It will increase your comprehensive of the textbook and lecture information.  

Textbook chapters are long.  Subsequently, they can be tedious to read and you risk losing interest over time.  Did you know the standard textbook chapter consists of 50 pages?  If that doesn't seem like a lot, think of it more as 150 pages of a regular novel.   

• Suggestions:
  • Utilize good time-management skills: Block out reading times and be aware of the upcoming reading assignments.
  • Pace yourself: Read your chapters in blocks.  For example, don't sit down with the goal of reading all of chapter 1.  Read 10 -15 pages, take a break or do another assignment, and then return to your reading.  This tactic will drastically increase your speed and comprehension of the material.

Textbooks do have valuable information, even when you think they do not.  Make the information in those textbooks readily available to you by being a critical reader.

• Suggestions:
  • Question the reading: How does this relate to course discussions and/or lectures?  Creating links is helpful for staying focused.
  • Analyze & Synthesize the reading: What are the main concepts and supporting details?  How are the concepts and ideas supported (facts, details, examples, etc...)?  How can I pull individual concepts and ideas together as a whole?  
  • Evaluate the reading: Is this material objective?  What value does this information have?  What is the relevance to course lectures, labs, or other course materials?

Making the most out reading your textbook: ACTIVE READING.

• Suggestions:
  • Utilize a marking system: Highlighting information is an excellent way to create a quick reference point.  Often students highlight while they read, but this can cause you to lose focus or forget the information.  A good strategy to employ is reading a paragraph/section, thinking about it, and then highlighting the material you think is most important or that you will want to review.  Highlighting does not have to be restricted to only highlighters.  Use a method that works for you: underlining, starring, etc...
    • FYI: It may seem like reading and highlighting will take more time.  You are right, it will.  However, when you are not scrambling for information before the test or re-reading your chapters you will recognize that it actually takes less time if you do it effectively the first time.
  • Take notes: Taking notes is a highly beneficial activity when reading.  It gives you a time to reflect on the material, determine what you want to write about, and then writing it in your own words.  Writing the information down in your own words will help you understand the material, as well as help create a "study guide" for the textbook readings.
    • Try using the textbook note sheet when reading your textbook.  Simply write the name and chapter of the textbook on the top of the page, date it, and start taking notes.  The textbook note sheet is helpful because it leaves space for you to write down the page number of your notes in the left margin.  You can also use the left margin to write down the definition of words you are unfamiliar with.  For example, if you have a word in your notes that you are unsure of then highlight it and write the definition in the left margin.  
    • Another benefit of keeping textbook notes is for cumulative exams, major courses, and graduate/professional school entry exams (ie: GMAT, GRE, LSAT, etc...).  By keeping your textbook notes and organized class lectures together in a binder/folder you have automatically created a study guide, as well as a handy resource for papers, quizzes, and quick reference guide.
  • Utilize the end-of-chapter tests or online resources: These resources are excellent and will help you review the material covered in the chapter.

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We hope you find this resources useful.  These are only a few strategies you can employ to get the most out of your textbook readings.  Combined with effective time management strategies these textbook tips/tools will help you be more effective when reading.  When used in combination with organized class notes, effectively reading your textbook can truly maximize your study time.

If you want additional textbook reading information/strategies or a more in depth explanation of the above mentioned materials, please stop by the AES office at 101 Towers Concourse.

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