- Frontier High School
- Improving Reading Comprehension
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Improving Reading Comprehension
Define your purposeMany texts contain information and details that is unrelated to the most important concepts and ideas. Identifying a purpose or objective when reading will keep you focused on what's important. Defining your purpose ahead of time will also help you classify information that is relevant to the main concepts, as well as that which is nonessential, so you can maximize the time spent studying what's most important.
Read the textNow that you've completed your pre-reading survey and identified a purpose, it's time to actually sit down and read the text. If you have a difficult time concentrating when you read, we recommend reading out loud. Many people comprehend material better if they read it out loud – especially if you're an auditory learner.
Take notes or highlight important conceptsWriting something down is one of the most effective memory techniques. As you come across key concepts, facts, and ideas, use a highlighter, write them down on a piece of paper, or make a note in the margin. This will help you remember what you've read to be able to quickly access important sections for future reference.
Post-reading reviewAfter reading a text, take time to identify what you've learned and important take-aways. This will help you internalize what you've learned and help you retain it for future reference. Identifying what you've learned will also help you identify what you still do not fully comprehend, so you can spend more time reviewing unclear concepts.