A Guide to Speed ReadingENGL 213PUCPR Prof. Miguel A. Arce

How do people read?

• Our conscious brain takes in 16 bits of information per second, compared to our non-conscious brain that absorbs 11 million bits per second.

• This is the reason why we hate to do stuff consciously.

How do we read?

read stop read

How do we read?

• Effectively you are not reading words, but blocks of words at a time. The period of time during which the eye rests on one word is called a fixation.

How do we read?

• You may also notice that you don't always proceed from one block of words to the next.

• Sometimes, you may move back to a preceding block of words if you are unsure about something or if you don’t understand what it meant.

• These disruptions to the forward flow of reading are called skip-backs.

How do we read?

• Research shows that there is a big relationship between rate and comprehension.

• Some people read rapidly and comprehend well; others read slowly and comprehend badly.

• Thus, there is some reason to believe that the factors producing slow reading are also involved in lowered comprehension.

Pre-Requisites of Speed Reading

• Before taking into consideration speed reading, we must understand that it is an activity that is not to be used for everything that is read.

• Speed reading basically covers two areas: – reading – comprehension

In order to achieve and use speed

reading

Speed

Practice

Overview of Goal

Vocabulary

Pre-Requisites of Speed Reading

Pre-Requisites of Speed Reading

• It is useless to study speed reading if you have trouble in absorbing information.

• You should already be an able reader before you try to speed read.

• Speed reading will not help you if you have problems in understanding the meaning of the words.

Before Trying to Speed Read

• Consider Your Purpose• Look for Specific Words• Become an Impatient Reader• Different Speeds for Different Materials

Identifying Needs for Reading the Material

• In order to become aware of your reading situation, ask yourself questions like:– What do I want (or need) to know and learn?– In which context do I want (or need) this?– Which texts could suit these needs?– What made me choose this text?

Identifying Needs for Reading the Material

– How deeply an understanding of the text do I need?

– How much time have I got?– How do I want to proceed?

Different Speeds for Different Materials

• You do not need to read every word to understand a text.

• However some texts will require careful reading, so you need to know when to adjust your reading speed.

• Skim a text, and then decide if a slower reading approach is necessary.

How to Speed Read?

• Step 1– In reading, your starting position and reading gesture is relevant:

sit up straight, with the book being held by your left hand, and with your right hand doing the pacing.

– You should have your full concentration on your text and no noise should be allowed in the place where you are reading.

– Read until the end!

– Do not get tired, discouraged, or bored; don’t just stop reading when you want to.

How to Speed Read?

– After you finish reading, recall the things that you have learned, return to the ideas that seem unclear, and reread them in order to grasp their ideas.

– Carefully read and absorb difficult passages. On parts which are not clear, don’t be afraid to stop and reread

How to Speed Read?

• Step 2– Scan the page for titles, sub-titles, graphs or

anything that provides data.

– Read the data on the graphs or summaries.

– As you begin to scan the page just make sure you read the content words and skip all function words.

How to Speed Read?

• Step 3– Stop sub-vocalization.

– Try to shut down the little voice in your head!

How to Speed Read?

• Step 4– With your finger, pen or any other marker, slide the

pen and read everything without going back.

– This is in other words you will be reducing fixations.

– After you’ve finished reading the page ask yourself, “what did I understand?”

How to Speed Read?

• Step 5 – Constantly verify what is important and what is not.

– There are times where you know that there is specific data that you need to understand.

– Speed read what isn’t important and read carefully what is considered to be important.

Major Causes of Slow Reading Speed

• The major causes of slow reading speed can be influenced by these individual variables such as:– intelligence– motivation – physiological – psychological traits

Vocabulary Deficiencies Inflexibility

Slow Reaction

TimePassivity

Major Causes of Slow Reading Speed

Major Causes of Slow Reading Speed

• Deficiencies in vocabulary and comprehension levels required by the particular reading material greatly affects reading rate.

• Learning will not help a student who has difficulty understanding the reading material.

• In addition, learning will not help a student who is hindered by an inadequate vocabulary to skip any faster through unknown or vaguely defined words.

Major Causes of Slow Reading Speed

• Inflexibility – the tendency to read everything the same way regardless of what it is,why it is being read, etc.

• Passivity – the failure to become involved with the material being read; the failure to interact with the author and to anticipate his following thoughts. Unnecessary and habitual regression or re-reading due to lack of concentration.

Major Causes of Slow Reading Speed

• Habitually slow "reaction time" to reading material.