Acac

Reading effectively for assignments
Anna Phillips [e-mail] Academic Skills Unit, MacKillop Campus

Outline
1. Reading and note-making in different contexts 2. Reading critically and evaluating sources 3. Analysing the assignment and beginning research 4. Reading for the assignment

Part 1
Reading and note-making in different contexts

1. Your reading strategies
Techniques for reading Techniques for finding • Novels • A place to rent
• Newspapers
– Read fairly closely – Might skim if boring – Skim and scan for interesting items – read selected sections in detail

– Skim to locate area – Scan for information

• A phone number
– Skim alphabetically – Scan surnames

• Do you ever make notes?

Reading and note-making at university
• Are you using these strategies with your academic reading?
– Lectures – Tutorials – Assignments – Exams • Do you take notes whilst reading? What techniques do you use?

Lectures: Background reading
• Pre-read and take notes as needed
– Prioritise. Skim and scan texts for relevance – Spend time on the key concepts, theories and expressions (highlight or jot down key points or questions) – Reflect on why these are important – Summarise the key ideas and the relationship between concepts/ideas (you can also add notes to the PowerPoint handouts)

Tutorials

For full participation, read the set texts
– Skim the readings for an overview (think about why they were set?) – Highlight key ideas. – Understand the ideas, the author’s purpose and the argument – Note anything interesting or difficult – Jot down any questions and try to answer them

Assignments
Find the appropriate sources (develop good research skills), then read .carefully, using the assignment question as a guide.
– Skim books, journal articles and appropriate websites for relevance and credibility. – Scan for key information to support and challenge your position. – Read appropriate sections both critically and in detail. –