How to approach a text?
How to approach a text?
Read extensively
When studying at university, it is impossible to read everything in great detail. Therefore, you must develop the skills of reading only what you need, the parts you need and being critical enough to decide when to stop reading something.
Intensive reading
Intensive reading is when you try to read everything in great detail
Extensive reading
Reading a bit from a lot of different sources
Always have a clear purpose before you read anything
When studying at university, it is impossible to read everything in great detail. Therefore, you must develop the skills of reading only what you need, the parts you need and being critical enough to decide when to stop reading something.
Your purpose may be clear....
e.g. I’m going to read this article to find out what methods the researcher used for gathering this type of data, as I want to get ideas on how I will carry out my own investigation.
Or it may be more vague.....
e.g. I’m going to read this book chapter to see if there are any insights into this specific topic. I will skim read it and scan for keywords. If I don’t find anything directly applicable to my specific thesis, I won’t take any notes..
What questions should you ask yourself before and while reading?
The following questions may be usefully asked about any text you are reading
1. Why are you reading this text? What is your purpose?
2. What type of text is it: research report, essay, textbook, book review?
3. What do you know about the subject of the text?
4. What else has been written on the subject of the text?
5. What controversies (if any) exist in this area?
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