Reading strategy exercises
Now that you've learnt ways to read and skim read faster, it's time to bring both skills together. Find a book that has a good mix of structured and unstructured text, and try the following drills.
Downwards path drill
We're not going to set a specific time target for this drill. Rather, just keep track of the time taken and number of pages covered. Aim to improve your "time per page" over successive drills. Pick two chapters and follow these steps.
- Read the book covers, table of contents, and introduction. Scan the index.
- Start the timer.
- Fast skim both of your chosen chapters, one after the other – just looking at headings.
- Skim read the first chapter.
- Read the first chapter.
- Skim the first chapter again, re-reading any sections you found difficult.
- Write some notes on the first chapter.
- Skim read the second chapter.
- Read the second chapter.
- Skim the second chapter again, re-reading any sections you found difficult.
- Write some notes on the second chapter.
- Stop the timer and note the time and the number of pages.
After you've done the drill, review the material once more and see if you missed any key points. Repeat the drill a few days later using two new chapters.
Crossways path drill
Again, we're not going to set a specific time target for this drill. Just keep track of the time taken and number of pages, and aim to improve your "time per page" over successive drills. Pick two chapters and follow these steps.
- Read the book covers, table of contents, index and introduction.
- Start the timer.
- Fast skim both of your chosen chapters, one after the other – just looking at headings.
- Skim read the first chapter.
- Skim read the second chapter.
- Read the first chapter.
- Read the second chapter.
- Skim the first chapter again, re-reading any sections you found difficult.
- Write some notes on the first chapter.
- Skim the second chapter again, re-reading any sections you found difficult.
- Write some notes on the second chapter.
- Stop the timer and note the time and the number of pages.
After you've done the drill, review the material once more and see if you missed any key points. Repeat the drill a few days later using two new chapters.
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