Leisure Reading 101
Lesson 3: Mastering Your Comprehension
Learn how to speed read and reap the benefits
The most important thing you must remember and learn to adapt in your everyday lives is to know when speed-reading is beneficial -- that is the definition of an effective reader. Most of us don’t know when to do it or when not to do it and don't really know how to speed-read. For example, some texts do require little time to read so speed-reading is most effective while other texts are lengthier and complex so a slower read is most appropriate. The key point here is mastering the ability to choose correctly which speed is effective to achieve comprehension.
To be an effective reader you must master this technique. It will take a combination of measures to reach success with speed-reading.
Let us begin by exploring the point I've just raised:
“How do you know when to apply which reading speed?“
It depends on the complexity of the book or literary content.
Once this is determined the next phase to achieve speed-reading must be learned. It is accomplished by mastering two integral areas of reading, the first of which is comprehension skills.
COMPREHENSION
To master this area you must concentrate on the materials you are about to read. Concentration is a pivotal part of comprehending what you are reading. That means eliminating everything around you and focusing on the words. Tiger Woods have stated many times that his phenomenal success in his golf game is based on what his father taught him; to concentrate on the ball and the target and tune everyone else out. Now look where that technique took him: he is one of the most famous and successful young golfers in the world. This level of reading will most definitely need to be on the level of analytical reading, for comprehending a book is fully understanding the contents the author is trying to relay. You too can reach this success in reading effectively.
Implement this approach in keeping on track with comprehension:
Do you catch yourself daydreaming or re-reading the paragraph for the third time? Take a 1-minute time out. Surrender. Indulge in the daydream or look out a window, just do anything that is not related to the previous activity of reading. Then return back to the page with a determined mind to finish the page(s). Look at the words and say them in your mind as you move down the page.
Do you comprehend what you are reading? Well, to succeed in actually comprehending you must rely on the faith that you may not know now the author’s main ideas but you will. Or perhaps not completely in the beginning but you will continue reading nonetheless until you reach that level of comprehension.
QUESTIONS YOU MUST ALWAYS ASK
Keep these questions in your mind at all times while reading. Although they might vary depending on the topic, the 3-4 questions below will usually serve your inquiry. These questions will guide you in your comprehension of the text:
1. What is the main issue/purpose of this book?
2. What literary category does it applies to: fiction or non-fiction?
3. What are the main components of the book? For example, are there specific issue-geared chapters or individual chapters with supporting data presented?
For Fiction Books Ask The Following:
1. Does the title convey the main focus of the book?
2. Who are the main characters?
3. What time frame is the book written in?
4. What is the recurring issue being presented for the main character to overcome and solve?
MAKING A BOOK YOUR OWN
To achieve high levels of comprehension you must begin to make the book your own. Use the items below while you are reading the book:
1.Highlighter: use this instrument to bring focus when you are looking for the answers to your questions regarding the phrase the author used. I prefer yellow because the color of the paper makes a nice contrast.
2.Pen: any color is sufficient, I prefer blue because it's less distracting and doesn't blend in with the black ink of the words on the book.
3.Use circles, squares, triangles or even exclamation points around word(s) and paragraphs where you agree (or disagree) with the author and the questions that arise.
4. State your own opinions of what you feel the book contains. Present your own questions to the author or to anyone that would be interested in the contents of the book. Make these markings at the top of the page or in the margins.
5.Begin to fold the top corners of the book, not a big pancake fold but a small wink fold. Use the big pancake folds when a major and in-depth point is being raised or a major scene has unfolded and you must return to re-read it.
Applying these measures and watch as you increasing your comprehending of the literary content of the book. Furthermore, this will allow you to expand your mind in knowing what parts are not clear. Now, if a particular section of the book is still unclear, at least you know what type of questions to ask in receiving the correct answers to your query. The focus here is in knowing which direction to go in order to reach your final destination – enjoying the reading experience and gaining information and understanding along the way.
This leaves us to the next area: Fixation.
FIXATION
Why this approach? Simple, we must fixate our eyes to read the words before us and draw a conclusion regarding the purpose of the chapter, book, etc. This will lead to us knowing if we are comprehending what we are reading or not. Our minds are capable of storing and interpreting mass data. We just need to learn to filter the necessary contents to our mind in order to reach success in effective reading.
Implement this approach:
Move your eyes to the left then to the right of the room. Try to focus on an object in either area. Let your eyes stay that way for 20 seconds. Then fixate your eyes on one word, then proceed to several words on the page. Begin to read the corresponding two pages. The key is to train your eyes to move to the rhythm of the words across the page. Don’t stop and ponder on the hard words or phrases, use your highlighter or pen to mark them for you to return for additional study. The purpose of this exercise is to master your fixation on the literary content, leading you to better comprehending the message being relayed.
Ok, you have come to understand the important tasks in comprehending and fixation to fully grasp the effectiveness of speed-reading. And you are fully prepared to know when you should speed-read or slowly read the content. Let us say for this exercise you need to speed-read. Use these measures to accomplish it:
1.Clear your mind of chatter. If you are unsuccessful in the first minute apply the step I stated in the section dealing with comprehending.
2.Use the finger that is most comfortable and guide your finger across the page. This is a most productive way to speed-read; by trying to catch your finger. If it is an email you are reading, use either your cursor or a pen by touching the screen. The key is any instrument to be the leader as you follow.
3.Remember, as you speed-read you must comprehend what you are reading. To achieve speed-reading and to master the comprehension, speak out loud the contents of what you are reading. Don’t worry about disturbing others. Speak out loud in a tone that you and only you can hear. Then listen to the words. Absorb them as the words fall off your lips and re-enter your mind.
4.Don’t stop when you get stuck on a big word or phrase that is unclear. Keep going until you are finished, making a mental note that different parts are unclear and you will returned later to get a full understanding.
We all want to be able to use big words to let others know that we are extremely intellectual. The number one way to reach this level of having a wide vocabulary is reading many books and understanding their message. You are getting so many different experts in different fields providing you with insight on a particular subject, and along the way you will come across many words that you are unfamiliar with.
I want you to start doing the following:
A.When you come across a word, circle it and highlight the word.
B.Go to the flap of the book or one of the free blank pages of the book and write the word there for you to return to it later so you can look it up in a dictionary or encyclopedia.
C.Place an asterisk by the word if you have a vague definition of the word.
D.Look at the context the word is in. Do you understand the supporting words to lead you to a full understanding?
E.After reading the book, use a couple of 5x7 cards that will list the words that you did not know and on the opposite side write the definition. I know it might sound elementary, but my dear, it is a very effective way to increase and remember the definition of words and at the same time increase your vocabulary. Test yourself daily on the words you have learned, and watch your mind grow and feel the excitement of knowing that word when you read another book or someone you are talking to uses it. You are becoming more erudite in literature!
Let's proceed to the next exercise:
"Recommended Reading."
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