About Reading Skills

Title:

Is a name given to a text with the intention of identifying the subject of the reading. In occasions, the title of text hooks to the lector. It briefly describes the general vision of the text.

Topic:

In order to have a better understanding of the text it is really important to have a previous knowledge of what it is going to be read. The topic of a text is a phrase or a group of words that head a text and announce or summarize its content, it answers the following question:

“What is the text/passage about?”

Main Idea:

Is a sentence or a phrase that explains the central thought or message that the author wants to transmit. It helps readers to remember important information. All the information in the text supports the main idea. It answers the following question:

“What are the most important issues about the topic

being discussed in the passage/text?”

Usually before reading a text, there are questions that “the reader” should ask herself/himself which introduce him/her to the reading and helps to understand better the information. These questions are:

• The title of the following text is______.
• What do you already know about the topic? Mention some facts.
• Write down six key words you expect to find in the text.
• Write down as many associations as you can think of for each one.
• Look at the first and last paragraphs of the text. Write a sentence you think it will describe the general idea of the text.
• Write down several things you would like to find out in the text.

http://www.upv.es/jugaryaprender/ingles/reading.htm
http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/weblessons/GetTheIdea/default.htm
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/title
http://vclass.mtsac.edu:920/readroom/Mainidea.htm

Purpose of Paragraphs:

Is used to present a definition or explanation of a term, or to present arguments or a point of view about something. Also, the purpose of paragrahs is to interrelate sentences that develop a central topic. Paragraphs are generally governed by a topic sentence, and it has its own unity and coherence and is an integral part of the logical development of an essay.

Supporting Ideas:

Are sentences that explain, or give details about the main idea. Supporting ideas tell how, what, where, why, how much or how many details about main idea and the relationship between details and main ideas, increasing your comprehension of the topic in question.

http://www.google.co.ve/url?sa=X&start=1&oi=define&q,

http://www.pearsoned.ca/text/flachmann4/gloss_iframe.html&usg=AFQjCNFLwPwNcjO3KSDcCwN70yGiOIkjeg, http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/academicsupport/materials/disertationwriting/Writing%20&%20editing%20strategies%20for%20Progress%20Review%20session.doc, consulted May 28, 2008 , Larousse dictionary (2005) El pequeño larousse ilustrado, D.F-México,
Pereira, S. and Rubena, L .(2006) Focus and reading, Caracas-Venezuela,
http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/308.HTM

Pre-reading:

The strategies used in pre-reading help students assess what prior knowledge they have of the content being taught and establish their purpose for reading.

Some examples of pre-reading strategies include: Predicting, skimmin, reading title and section headings, identifying what prior knowledge one has on the topic, learning important vocabulary words. The importance of pre-reading is that the reader developes motivation and backround knowledge about the subject matter of the text, also, generates a general idea of the text for better comprehension during the reading.

Post-reading:

Post-reading strategies help students deepen their understanding of the content, build further connections, and expand their prior knowledge of the subject matter.

Some examples of post-reading strategies include: Rereading, evaluating whether the purpose for reading was met, confirming predictions, summarizing, reflecting, questioning, thinking about how the material connects to one’s own life. Post reading also can determine if the predicting or the general idea made on the pre-reading was correct and if it was not the reader can understand the real purpose of the text and know which was the mistake done. It is also important to make the exercises proposed at the end of the text because by answering those questions the reader organizes and synthesizes the information in order to remember it.

http://departments.weber.edu/teachall/reading/post.html
http://wps.ablongman.com/ab_peregoy_esl_4/22/5725/1465732.cw/index.html

Skimming:

Is used to quickly identify the main ideas of a text. When you read the newspaper, you're probably not reading it word-by-word, instead you're scanning the text. Skimming is done at a speed three to four times faster than normal reading. People often skim when they have lots of material to read in a limited amount of time. Use skimming when you want to see if an article may be of interest in your research.

How to skim:

• Start at the beginning of the chapter and read the section headings.
• Think how the section headings flow from one to another and how they link with each other.
• Take note of vocabulary or terms, which may be in bold, or italics print.
• Read each topic sentence, usually the first sentence under the heading.
• Read the study questions at the end of the chapter and think: "Which section could I find that answer in?
• Go back and read each section.

Scanning:

Is a technique you often use when looking up a word in the telephone book or dictionary. You search for key words or ideas. In most cases, you know what you're looking for, so you're concentrating on finding a particular answer. Scanning involves moving your eyes quickly down the page seeking specific words and phrases. Scanning is also used when you first find a resource to determine whether it will answer your questions. Once you've scanned the document, you might go back and skim it.

http://42explore.com/skim.htm
http://www.open.ac.uk/skillsforstudy/fast-reading-techniques.php