Learn to Write

Depending on the type of information you are trying to read, the way in which you use reading comprehension skills may be a bit different. However, here are 10 tips to improve your overall skill level.

1. Work on improving and strengthening your vocabulary. For example, identify any specific terms or jargon used that you have not seen before and use a dictionary to find a definition for them.
2. Read out loud whenever possible (whether to yourself or to someone else).
3. Take notes and ask and answer questions about the item you are reading. A good place to start is with the 5Ws+H (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How).
4. Identify the major structural elements of your source - for example, the main idea or the plot, the characters involved, setting, supporting details, beginning/middle/end, conflict, overall tone, hypothesis or research question, and more.
5. Read your item several times to make sure you fully understand the item. For your first read through, focus on 
6. Create a summary of what you have read or see if you can explain it to a friend without looking directly at the text.
7. Learn more about any topics discussed in the information with some deeper background research. Check out the Learn to Research guide for more information on doing background research.
8. Read slowly and break the source up into manageable chunks. This could mean reading one paragraph, one page, or one section at a time. If you need to take a break, make sure it is not too long so you do not get distracted or lose track of your progress.
9. Practice! Your reading comprehension is a skill and needs to be practiced over and over to see improvement.
10. Ask for help - whether this is asking your teacher or instructor for clarification or one of the tutor-coaches at Tutorial and Academic Coaching Services, sometimes you may need a little extra assistance to be successful.