2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Chapter 11: Rate Flexibility

Bridging the Gap, 9/eBrenda Smith

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

In this chapter you will answer the questions:

What is your reading rate?

How fast should you read?

How do faster readers maintain a better reading rate?

What are some techniques for faster reading?

What happens during regression?

Why skim?

What is scanning?

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Why is Reading Rate Important?

Understanding the factors that contribute to rate can both quell anxiety and help increase reading efficiency.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

How Fast Should You Read?Average Speed - 250 words per minute at 70% percent comprehension.College students - 300 words per minute on the same type of material with 70% percent comprehension.No one particular reading rate serves for all purposes for all materials.Efficient readers vary their rate according to:• their own purpose for reading• their prior knowledge

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Techniques for Faster Reading

Concentrate

Stop Regressing

Expand Fixations

Monitor Subvocalization

Preview

Use Your Pen as a Pacer

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

ConcentrateExternal Distractions:

Turn off the television.

Ask people not to interrupt.

Choose a place to read where interruptions will be at a minimum.

Internal Distractions:

Make a to-do list.

Spend less time worrying and more time doing.

Visualize as you read.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Stop Regressing

Regression - due to a lack of concentration.

Analyze when and why you are regressing.

Visualize the incoming ideas.

Relate the new material to what you already know.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Expand Fixations

Fixations - stopping points

Use your peripheral vision.

Take in phases or thought units that seem to go together automatically.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Monitor Sub-vocalization

Subvocalization - the little voice in your head that reads for you:

With easy reading tasks, reduce subvocalizations.With more difficult textbook readings, allow subvocalizations:• voice seems to add another sensory

dimension.• the inner voice can read up to about 400

words per minute.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Preview

Read the subheadings.

Look at the pictures.

Notice the italicized words and boldface print.

Make predictions.

Activate your schema.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Use Your Pen as a Pacer

Point under the words in a smooth, flowing motion

Benefits:

• improves concentration

• keeps you from regressing

• sets a rapid, steady pace for reading

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Push & PaceCount the number of pages in your homework assignments.

Estimate according to your reading rate how many pages you can read in thirty minutes.

Use a paper clip or a sticky note to mark the page you are trying to reach.

Push yourself to achieve your goal!

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

SkimmingSkimming is a technique of selectively reading for the main idea.

It involves processing material of around 900 words per minute.

It answers the question, “What is this about?”

To skim, read the title and subheadings as well as words in italics and boldface print to get an idea of what the material is about.

See the Reader’s Tip on page 590 of your textbook.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Reader’s Tip: Organizational Patterns in Skimming

Listing - explains items of equal value.Definition - defines a term and gives examples to help the reader understand the term.Time order or sequence - presents items in chronological order.Comparison-Contrast - compares similarities & differences of items.Description - explains characteristics of an item.Cause and Effect - shows how one item has produced another.Addition - provides more information.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Reader’s Tip: Organizational Patterns in Skimming

Classification – divides items into groups or categories.Generalization and example – explains with examples to illustrate.Location or spatial order – identifies the whereabouts of objects.Summary – condenses major points.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Techniques for Skimming

Read introductions.

Look for main ideas and significant supporting details.

Read first sentences in paragraphs and summary statements.

Skip words that seem to have little meaning, like a, an, and the.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Techniques for Skimming

Skip sentences or sections that seem to contain the following:

Familiar ideas.

Unnecessary details.

Superfluous examples.

Restatements or unneeded summaries.

Material irrelevant to your purpose.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Scanning

Scanning is a process of searching for a single bit of information.

It is a locating skill like looking up a number in a telephone book.

You are trying to pinpoint a specific detail when you scan.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Reader’s Tip: Techniques for Scanning

Figure out the organization of the material.

Know specifically what you are looking for and decide on a key expression to help you find it.

Switch to a related idea if that doesn’t work.

Repeat the phrase and hold the image in your mind.

Move quickly and aggressively.

Verify through careful reading.

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Summary Points

What is your reading rate?

How fast should you read?

How do faster readers maintain a better reading rate?

What are some techniques for faster reading?

What happens during regression?

Why skim?

What is scanning?

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Vocabulary Booster

Complete the exercises on “Foreign Terms” in your textbook.

Bon vivant: a lover of good living; a gourmet