KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY – WESTERN CAMPUS

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF BASIC SCIENCES
COURSE TITLE: COMMUNICATION AND COUNSELLING SKILLS
COURSE CODE: MPP 1101
ALL MPP 1.1 CLASS

MODULE 3 & 4: STUDY, LIBRARY & READING SKILLS

STUDY SKILLS

The ability to successfully receive, understand, process, and retain knowledge in a learning
environment is referred to as "study skills." At this basic level, the topic of study skills opens
up a conversation about the methods and approaches that improve a person's ability to learn.
Study abilities, which include time management, note-taking, active reading, memorizing
strategies, and more, are not intrinsic; rather, they are acquired and refined through
experience.

Studying is the process of actively and methodically interacting with material in order to
comprehend it and make it retrievable for subsequent use. It is important to recognise that
studying is an active activity that involves engaging with, digesting, and integrating new
knowledge rather than a passive act of simply reading or listening to material.

Good study habits involve a variety of skills such as time management, self-discipline,
focus, memorization, organisation, and effort to enable you to study effectively and
successfully.

Planning Your Academic Work (How to study effectively)

For everything you have desired to achieve or have in life, you have to wake up and go
get it. There is nothing that come easy, hard work and determination make things
happen. A good student should priorities his/her study and work smartly. To ensure you
become successful person in life through education, here are some guide that you can try
to perfect you work.

a) Make a Plan: Many people usually make New Year resolution by the beginning of

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
 every year; funny enough many don't achieve their plan, why? Failure to plan! A
good student should have a plan which is supposed to be followed strictly without
fail. A common saying goes “if you want something done in a hurry, ask a busy
person.” – a busy person does not postpone, does not waste time, plans his time well
and make quick decision because they don't have time to waste. Allocating more
time to leisure means less time for study thus high chances of stress, panic and
failure.

b) Intention of studying/Set goals (SMART-F): Ask yourself why you're studying

and what you hope to gain from it. Ask yourself this question whenever you sit
down to study. Connect your academics with your long-term goals. If you don't see
the point of studying, it will become boring and tedious. To achieve your goals as a
student, you may need to postpone or discontinue certain activities.

c) Timetable: The time table should have all the subjects studied in Faculty/School
without allocation more time to your favorite subjects and denying time to your
weak subjects. Follow your time table strictly. That way you will be able to read the
teacher's work and read ahead.
d) Attend class: Learn how to attend class if you want to study well. You won't know
which topics need to be studied above all else if you don't attend class, and you
won't be able to get study materials or hear the lectures either.
e) When to study: A good rule of thumb is that studying should be carried out only
when you are rested, alert, and have planned for it. Last minute studying just before
a class is usually a waste of time. Don’t study later than the time you usually go to
sleep, you may fall asleep. Schedule your most difficult materials when you are mentally
at your best and easier ones when you are mentally less efficient.
f) Know your learning style: Create techniques and strategies to compensate for gaps
between your learning style and your instructor's teaching style. Ask yourself the
appropriate questions, and you will satisfy through the right answers. It is vital that
you get immediate responses to your questions. Do not wait till you have looked
into the materials several times and still can't comprehend them. Get assistance
immediately.

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
g) Make a Deadline: Time wait for no man, so in case you have things, assignments
you have to handle, do them today not tomorrow.
h) Note-taking: Everything from effective note-taking to information management,
organising, and presentation, as well as attentive listening and following
instructions. These notes will be extremely valuable to you both now and in the
future.
i) Discussion groups: It is always good to work in groups, many hands make work
light. Look for colleagues whose priority is study and work with them. The group
should establish ground rules, limit the size of the group, and make it a study session
rather than a social gathering. When joining any group, remember to select a study
group that is serious about its studies and life.
j) The environment/location for study: You can study anywhere, only that some
places are better than others. Make sure the place you study is noise free. Libraries,
study lounges or private rooms are the best. Above all, the place you choose to study
should not be distracting.
k) Eat frequent meals and drink water often: Avoid eating a big meal before study
session, too much food will send you to a “rest” mode BUT don’t starve yourself either.
Drink plenty of water during study session especially when you feel sluggish. Caffeine
may help.
l) Don’t stress yourself too much: If you are stressing too much on things than what they
really deserve, you are losing your concentration. If your assignment is not going well
and you are having trouble staying focused, you may need to take some time off and
return to it later.

Presentation of Academic Work

A student in college or university is required to do a lot of assignments, practicals,
CATs, ESE, etc. The work to be presented to the lecturer must be neat and tidy. Typed
work always look presentable but since a student cannot come with a computer or a
laptop and a printer while doing a CAT, so the best thing to put in mind is, let your work
be presentable. Your University, Faculty / School, Department, names (surname first),
registration number, course title, course code, name of the lecturer, the date and

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
signature should be carefully scribed on the cover page. A student should have a cover
page for every work/assignment as indicated below;-

KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-WESTERN

CAMPUS
FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF BASIC SCIENCES

NAME OF STUDENT:
UNIVERSITY STUDENT’S REGISTRATION NUMBER:
COURSE NAME/TITLE:
COURSE CODE:
TASK/ASSIGNMENT:
LECTURER’S NAMES:
DATE:
STUDENT’S SIGNATURE:

Note-taking
Note taking is the practice of recording information captured from a transient source,
such as an oral discussion at a meeting, or a lecture. Notes of a meeting are usually called
minutes.

How to go about note taking

i. Arrive to your lecture room on or in time, this enables one to settle before the
lecturer.
ii. Arrive when organized with all the requirements/materials eg pen, ruler, pencils,
note book etc that is avoid borrowing.
iii. Make sure you sit in a position where you can see the lecturer and the board
properly.
iv. Listen actively – listening is a factor of effective communication; ask questions
where you don't understand, make contributions, do not switch off, that is, do not get
your mind out of the lecture hall.
v. Take notes using short forms if possible.

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
 vi. Never remain a passive listener if you fail to grasp an explanation ask the teacher to
go over it again.
vii. Take note of important questions during an oral presentation – questions may be
asked but no answers given.
viii. Take note of the contributions from the other students during the discussion group
meetings.

Challenges of note taking

While taking notes you are required to listen and at the same time write. In the process
one undergoes a lot of challenges. Here are some of the challenges the note taker go
through;-
a. Misspelling the words.
b. Not hearing properly maybe because of noise or physical maladies.
c. Poor pronunciation from the teacher.
d. Speed of the lecturer at which he is lecturing.
e. Dozing in class.
f. Misinterpretation of points.
g. Attitude towards the lecturer/subject/lecture hall.

Formation of discussion groups

A student in the university cannot work alone; he needs help from others reason for
discussion groups. The students also encourage each other to read and study. Know the
members you wish to avoid or include, try to listen to others and correct them. Do not
shout at each other, this may lead to depression and feeling inferior. Meet when
convenient to all members and avoid destructive members.

Characteristics of a discussion group

While choosing the members of your discussion group consider:-
a) The characteristics you will like the group to have.
b) Group dynamics. critical thinking is
c) They should have common interests.the 1.evaluation
d) Committed to the group. 2.assess
3. analyze and
understand
August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
e) Manageable group, about four to eight people – should have a chairperson.
f) Respecting one another.
g) Oriented to the same goal/interest.
h) Time conscious.
i) Allow each other a chance to discuss (active participation

Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is disciplined thinking with accorded or accepted given principles. It
focuses on designing new strategies on what to do. It is attitude of mind and it brings to
focus problems and their solutions and help one to learn to make one more stimulating.
Problem solving is referred to as critical thinking because at the end one has to solve his
problems.

As a student you may feel that, having only done a few hours of reading on a topic, you
can't argue against an author who has spent many years writing a book. Yet one of the
main purposes of a degree is to enable you to evaluate critically what you read.

Characteristics of Critical Thinkers

i. A person who is conscious with his work and want to be well informed.
ii. He is enthusiastic – always wanting to gain and he understanding.
iii. Reasonable and fair minded in judgment.
iv. Critical thinker is efficient in problem solving.
v. He is clear in communicating ideas and feelings.
vi. He asks creative questions.

LIBRARY AND READING SKILLS

Library is derived from the Latin word “liber” which means-a book. A library is an
organized collection of books, other printed materials, and in some cases special
materials such as manuscripts, films and other sources of information. Its collections can
be of print, audio or visual materials, including maps, prints, documents, microform (e.g.
microfilm/microfiche), CDs, cassettes, video tapes, DVDs, video-games, e-books, audio-

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
books and many other types of electronic resource.

The places where these materials are stored include;- public libraries, subscription
libraries, and private libraries, and material can also be in digital form, stored on
computers or accessible over the Internet. Libraries range in size from a few shelves of
books in a small organization's library to collections of several million items in the larger
national and academic libraries.

Types of library

We have various types of libraries where people can go and read, research, reference;
borrow etc books, manuals, newspapers, magazines and so on.

1. National or state library

A national library keeps all documents of and about a nation under some legal provision
and thus represents publications of and about the whole nation. A national or state library
serves as a national repository of information, and has the right of legal deposit, which is
a legal requirement that publishers in the country need to deposit a copy of each
publication with the library. Unlike a public library, they rarely allow citizens to borrow
books. Often, they include numerous rare, valuable, or significant works. Examples of
national library in the world are:-

i. National Library of India-Kolkata

ii. British Library-London

iii. Library of Congress- Washington

iv. The Russian State Library-Moscow

v. The Bibliotheque Nationale-Paris

1. Academic library
An academic library is a library found in school, colleges and university. A library
associated or connected with a school and used by the students, teachers and staff of that
school is called a School Library. Some academic libraries, especially those at public

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
institutions, are accessible to members of the general public in whole or in part. An
academic library's purpose is to support the teaching and research of college/university.
Non- academic materials are not found in an academic library.

The academic library provides a quiet study space for students in campus and college; it
may also provide group study space, such as meeting rooms. The library provides a
"gateway" for students and researchers to access various resources, both print/physical
and digital. Academic institutions are subscribing to electronic journals databases,
providing research and scholarly writing software, and usually provide computer
workstations or computer labs for students to access journals, library search databases
and portals, institutional electronic resources, internet access, and course- or task-related
software (i.e. word processing and spreadsheet software).

They are increasingly acting as an electronic repository for institutional scholarly

research and academic knowledge, such as the collection of digital copies of students'
theses and dissertations. Larger academic institutions may have subject-specific libraries,
like a science library, a law library, and a medical library.

2. Children’s libraries
Children's libraries are special collections of books intended for juvenile readers and
usually kept in separate rooms of general public libraries. They are an educational agency
seeking to acquaint the young with the world's literature and to cultivate a love for
reading.

3. Special libraries
Special Library is “a library established, supported and administered by a business firm,
private corporation, association, government agency, or other special interest group or
agency to meet the information needs of its members or staff in pursuing the goals of the
organization. Many private businesses and public organizations, including hospitals,
museums, research laboratories, law firms, and many government departments and
agencies, maintain their own libraries for the use of their employees in doing specialized

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
research related to their work.

Special libraries may or may not be accessible to some identified part of the general
public. Branches of a large academic or research libraries dealing with particular
subjects are also usually called special libraries. They are generally associated with one
or more academic departments. Special libraries are distinguished from special
collections, which are branches or parts of a library intended for rare books, manuscripts,
and other special materials.

4. Research libraries
A research library contains an in-depth collection of material on one or more subjects. A
research library supports scholarly research and will generally include primary as well as
secondary sources; it will maintain permanent collections and attempt to provide access
to all necessary material. A research library is most often an academic or national
library, but a large special library may have a research library within its special field
and a very few of the largest public libraries also serve as research libraries. A large
university library may be considered a research library.

5. Reference libraries
A reference library does not lend books and other items; instead, they must be read at the
library itself. Typically such libraries are used for research purposes in the university.
Some items at reference libraries may be historical and even unique. Many libraries
contain a “reference section”, which holds books, such as dictionaries, which are
common reference books, and are therefore not lent out. Such references sections may be
referred to as “reading rooms”, which may also include newspapers and periodicals.

6. Public libraries
Public Library is a public institution or establishment charged with the care of collection
of books and the duty of making them accessible to those who require the use of them. It
is a social institution established by law, financed by public fund, open for all without
any discrimination, for general and free diffusion of knowledge and information in the

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
community. It is also seen as the obligation of the government to establish a public
library system throughout the country at national, state and local levels. Besides this, the
rural and suburban areas should also be covered by branch and mobile libraries.

A public library provides service to the general public and makes at least some of its
books available for borrowing, so that readers may use them at home over a period of
days or weeks. Public libraries issue library cards to community members wishing to
borrow books. Public libraries rarely have scholarly books or research journals and
therefore academic research should be done at an academic library.

Sections of a library

There are many service units/sections of the Library, the sections are determined by the
size of the library and its ability. The following are the most common sections in the
library.
a) Acquisition Section
This unit is concerned with the selection and purchase of reading material. The books
demanded by different departments are purchased by the acquisition section. Books are
accessioned in this section. It keeps a complete and up-to-date record of such books and
other reading materials.
b) Cataloguing Section
After purchasing, accessioning and labeling of the reading material in the Acquisition
section, it is sent to the cataloguing section for technical processing. Main responsibility
of this section is to classify and catalogue the reading material. The reading material is
being classified according to Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme or the Library of
Congress classifications which are used in so many libraries in the world.

It is referred to as open access in the shelf. It can be said that this section has a unique
role for providing the latest information to the readers. The duties and responsibilities of
this section is registration of library users, orientation of new users and visitors, issuing
and receiving of books and other information materials including periodicals, and

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
generation of the user statistics
c) Short-Loan Section
Contain materials that are in high demand but are limited in number. These materials
include past-papers, abstracts from books etc. The materials here are borrowed for
limited time i.e. 1 day and 1 material. It offers closed access material.
d) Technical Section
This section is charged with the duties and responsibilities of acquiring information
materials and processing them. It classifies books, catalogue and any other documents in
the Library. The section also liaises with other academic departments in the acquisition
of information materials.
e) Reference Section
This section stock books that are read or referred to in the library and left there; you
cannot borrow them. They are very expensive books. This section function is to answer
the reader's reference questions and to keep a record of the reference questions asked and
answered. The librarian at this section educates readers on how to access reference
information from reference sources. Examples of reference books that are in the
reference area are: - Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Directories, thesaurus, biographical
dictionaries, hand books, almanacs, directories, atlases, gazetteers, indexes, quotation
books, bibliographies, accession lists, guides, maps, etc
f) E-Resources Section/ Multimedia Section

Because of the rapid growth and developments in information and communication

technologies (ICT), many libraries have collection of CD-ROMs and other digital
materials as well as areas where the library users can access internet. Photocopy
machines are also available to provide researchers with the copies of rare material and
preservation. Printing services are also available in this section. The librarian in this
section provides information literacy in the form of assisting new users to access e-
resources and acquit them with the use of computers.
g) Periodicals Section
It is the source of current and the latest published information which is very useful in
research work. It acquires journals of almost all the subjects. Bound volumes of the

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
journals are arranged on racks in classified order and fresh issues are displayed
alphabetically by title. Journals and newspapers are not issued, but photocopy of the
required article(s) is allowed under the rules.
h) National collection section
This section contains research materials about the country for example, materials about
Ugandan by Ugandans or/and non- Ugandans. You will find thesis, dissertation and
reports.
i) Children section
This section contains books for the children in primary school and high school. This
group can come and do their reading and research here.
j) Exhibition-cum-conference section
In this section collection of books/documents of a few eminent scientist are
available. Information regarding different courses inside and outside the country are
also found here. Conferences, seminars and exhibitions also take place here.

Types of Library Classification

There are many standard systems of library classification in use, and many more have
been proposed over the years. In general, Classification systems can be divided into
three types depending on how they are used.

i. Universal schemes covering all subjects - examples include Dewey

Decimal Classification, Universal Decimal

ii. Specific classification schemes for particular subjects or types of

materials - examples include Icon class, British Catalogue of Music
Classification (Dickinson classification) or the NLM Classification for
medicine.

iii. National schemes specially created for certain countries - an example is

the Swedish library classification system, SAB (Sveriges Allmänna
Biblioteksförening).

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
a. Universal classification systems used in the English-speaking world are:-

i. Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)

ii. Library of Congress Classification (LCC)
iii. Bliss bibliographic classification (BC)

b. Universal classification systems in other languages

i. A system of book classification for Chinese libraries (Liu's Classification)

library classification for user

ii. New Classification Scheme for Chinese Libraries

iii. Nippon Decimal Classification (NDC)
iv. Chinese Library Classification (CLC)
v. Korean Decimal Classification (KDC)
vi. Library-Bibliographic Classification (BBK) from Russia.

c. Universal classification systems that rely on synthesis (faceted systems)

i. Bliss bibliographic classification

ii. Colon classification
iii. Cutter Expansive Classification
iv. Universal Decimal Classification

The Library of Congress Classification System (LC)

This system for classifying books and other works was devised from the Library of
Congress in Washington, D.C. which divides human knowledge into broad categories
indicated by letters of the English alphabet, with further subdivisions indicated by
decimal notation.

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
Classification of books in library using library of congress

Listed below are the letters and titles of the main classes of the Library of Congress
Classification.

A - General works
B - Philosophy, psychology and religion
C - History - auxiliary sciences
D - History and topography/ General and Old World History
E-F- American history/History of the United States and British, Dutch, French,
and Latin America
G - Geography, anthropology, folklore, recreation
H - Social sciences
J – Political science
K- Law
KE - Canadian Law
KF - U.S. Law
L - Education
M - Music
N - Fine arts
P - Language and literature
Q - Science
R - Medicine S - Agriculture
T - Technology
U - Military science
V - Naval science
Z - Bibliography, library science and general Information Resources

The National Library of Medicine (NLM)

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) classification system is a library index that
includes medicine and preclinical basics sciences. The NLM classification is based on the
Library of Congress (LC) classification system, with alphabetical letters denoting broad
subject areas further subdivided by numbers. For example, QW 279 would indicate a book in
microbiology or immunology.

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
The NLM classification's one- or two-letter alphabetical codes use just a limited set of letters:
QS-QZ and W-WZ. This allows the NLM system to coexist with the wider LC coding
scheme, as neither of these ranges is employed in the latter. However, the LC system already
has three codes that overlap with the NLM: Human Anatomy (QM), Microbiology (QR), and
Medicine (R). To avoid any further confusion, these three codes are not utilised in the NLM.

The headers for the different schedules (letters or letter pairs) are brief (e.g., QW -
Microbiology and Immunology; WG - Cardiovascular System), and combined they provide
an overview of the disciplines covered by the NLM classification. Headings are widely
construed to comprise the physiological system, specialties associated with it, the regions of
the body mainly involved, and subsidiary related fields. The NLM system is hierarchical, and
organ-specific divisions are usually given priority within each timetable. Each main
schedule, as well as some sub-sections, begins with a series of form numbers ranging from 1
to 49 that classify materials by publication type, such as dictionaries, atlases, laboratory
manuals, and so on.

The primary schedules QS-QZ, W-WY, and WZ (except the range WZ 220-270) classify works
produced after 1913; the 19th century schedule is used for works published between 1801 and
1913; and WZ 220-270 provides century categories for works published before 1801.

Overview of the NLM Classification

A. Preclinical Sciences

 QS Human Anatomy  QW Microbiology & Immunology

 QT Physiology  QX Parasitology
 QU Biochemistry  QY Clinical Pathology
 QV Pharmacology  QZ Pathology

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
 B. Medicine and Related Subjects

 W Health Professions  WN Radiology. Diagnostic Imaging

 WA Public Health  WO Surgery
 WB Practice of Medicine  WP Gynecology
 WC Communicable Diseases  WQ Obstetrics
 WD Disorders of Systemic,  WR Dermatology
Metabolic, or Environmental Origin, etc.  WS Pediatrics
 WE Musculoskeletal System  WT Geriatrics. Chronic Disease
 WF Respiratory System  WU Dentistry. Oral Surgery
 WG Cardiovascular System
 WV Otolaryngology
 WH Hemic and Lymphatic Systems  WW Ophthalmology
 WI Digestive System  WX Hospitals & Other Health
 WJ Urogenital System Facilities
 WK Endocrine System  WY Nursing
 WL Nervous System  WZ History of Medicine
 WM Psychiatry  19th Century Schedule

The Dewey decimal classification (DDC)

Dewey Decimal System of classification is a proprietary system of library

classification developed by Melvil Dewey in 1876. This system organizes books on
library shelves in a specific and repeatable order that makes it easy to find any book and
return it to its proper place.

The Dewey decimal classification of books in the library is as follows:-

i. 000 –099 Computer science, information and general works

ii. 100 –199 Philosophy and psychology
iii. 200 – 299 Religion
iv. 300 – 399 Social sciences
v. 400 – 499 Language
vi. 500 – 599 Science (including mathematics)
vii. 600 – 699 Technology and applied Science
viii. 700 –799 Arts and recreation
ix. 800 –899 Literature
x. 900 –999 History, geography, and biography

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
Library catalogue

Cataloging is how a library maintains its list of materials. A cataloging system allows
searching and helps manage circulation. A bibliographic record is prepared by the
cataloger on each bibliographic record on the material; the record can be just basic data,
i.e. author, title, date, subject. These records can be kept in a traditional card catalog or
store using Online Public Assess Catalog (OPAC).

Library catalogue is a register of all bibliographic items found in a library this include
books, maps, newspapers, magazines, computer files, graphics, etc that is considered
library. Libraries use classification systems to organize the books on the shelves. A
classification system uses letters and/or numbers (call numbers) to arrange the books so
that books on the same topic are together.

Types of Library Catalogue

i. Author card: a formal catalog, sorted alphabetically according to the

authors' or editors' names of the entries.
ii. Title catalog: a formal catalog, sorted alphabetically according to the title
of the entries.
iii. Dictionary catalog: a catalog in which all entries (author, title, subject,
series) are interfiled in a single alphabetical order.
iv. Keyword catalog: a subject catalog, sorted alphabetically according to
some system of keywords.
v. Mixed alphabetic catalog forms: sometimes, one finds a mixed author /
title, or an author / title / keyword catalog.
vi. Systematic catalog: a subject catalog, sorted according to some systematic
subdivision of subjects. Also called a classified catalog.
vii. Shelf list catalog: a formal catalog with entries sorted in the same order as
bibliographic items are shelved.

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
Citation

Citation is a reference to a published or unpublished source. More precisely, a citation is

an abbreviated alphanumeric expression. To cite works of others, APA style is used
where the author and date are cited. Citations inserted in the text are acknowledged with
(Author, Date) or Author (Date).

The combination of both the in-body citation and the bibliographic entry constitutes
what is commonly thought of as a citation, whereas bibliographic entries by themselves
are not. Citation styles differ mostly in the location, order, and syntax of information
about references. The number and diversity of citation styles reflect different priorities
with respect to concision, readability, dates, authors, publications, and style.

Referencing/Bibliography process
Bibliography includes all sources of information consulted while doing your research. It
is a standardized method of formatting the information sources you have used in your
assignments or written work. Any given referencing style serves two purposes:
i. It acknowledges the source
ii. It allows the reader to trace the source.

Referencing styles: A referencing style of writing is a specific format for presenting

references (footnotes or endnotes), and bibliography. References should be listed in
alphabetical order of the authors' names. Make sure that your references are accurate and
comprehensive. Referencing is part of the code of conduct for scholars and academicians. It
is a standard required of scholarly communication. It is also a standard for written
communication expected by professionals.

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
READING SKILLS
Reading is a decoding process. Decoding is the ability to apply your knowledge of letter-sound
relationships, including knowledge of letter patterns, to correctly pronounce written words.
Understanding these relationships gives children the ability to recognize familiar words quickly
and to figure out words they haven't seen before.

The ability to derive meaning from a written text is referred to as reading skills, and it signifies
that a person with this skill can make sense of the written material. And he or she has excellent
reading comprehension skills. Reading is a necessary ability that contributes to long-term
success. In fact, reading proficiency and the ability to effectively grasp written text pave the way
for the development of further skills and associated language abilities.

How to improve your comprehension during reading

a. Begin from what you already know (activating prior knowledge).

b. Always try to make sense of what you are reading (context).

c. Ask yourself questions; before, during and after reading.

d. Predict and think about what will happen next in the text, or how your questions will be
answered.
e. Read with a purpose. Know why you are reading and what you are reading to find out.

f. Know that as a good reader you often REREAD parts of, or even, the whole text two or
more times in order to make sense of what you are reading.

For example: SQ3R Method for Effective Reading

Most college courses require students to read their textbooks or prescribed materials as part of
the learning process. All of this reading might be challenging at times! It may appear time-
consuming at first, but as you practice the method, you will find that it takes less time to read
your materials and you will acquire far more from the experience. To get the most out of your
reading time, use the SQ3R approach, which is outlined below;-

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
1. Survey
a) Go swiftly through the content.
b) By perusing the material's diagrams to gain an idea of what you might already be familiar
with and what you will be reading about.
c) Go over the headings and subheadings.
2. Question
a) Generate questions based on the headings: "Types of Reading Skills,"
b) Ask questions concerning the topic to be studied, such as "Explain the different types of
reading skills?" to expand your knowledge on your assessment of the material.
3. Read
a) While reading, keep your questions in mind and connect sections to the general topic of
the article/chapter.
b) Write notes in your own words below the questions you prepared.
c) Use short, 3-5 word phrases in your notes while reading.
d) You are not reading to teach yourself the content; rather, you are reading to begin to
familiarize yourself with the material and prepare for class.
4. Recall
a) Summarize key reading topics in your own terms without referring to your notes or book.
This forces you to evaluate your understanding, identifies what you still don't grasp,
and requires you to Reflect on the material you just read.
5. Review
a) Evaluate the retention of important information by reviewing your questions, responses,
notes, and books.
b) Identify concepts you still don't comprehend and seek explanation later.
c) Conclude with a summary of the entire work, outlining the key points

Types of reading skills

There are many types and methods of reading below are some:
i. Scanning - This involves scanning a text quickly with your eyes to find a certain
piece of information. Search the page rapidly with your eyes for specific names, words,
or phrases that apply to the work at hand.

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
 ii. Skimming - Having a brief glance over the text to obtain the main idea or general
meaning. You skim the detail and read rapidly to catch the important points. When
attempting to determine whether a book in the library or bookstore is appropriate for you,
use skimming.
iii. Sub-vocalization - This involves reading very slowly and deliberately while either
speaking the words aloud or at the very least imagining a voice. It mixes sight reading with
internalizing the words to make them sound like speech.
iv. Extensive reading/Light Reading - This is reading fast without concentrating too
much or being concerned with every single word. It is frequently used when reading an
enjoyable novel.
v. Intensive reading/Study Reading - It entails thinking about what is read in order for it
to be understood and remembered. It must be worked on, with time for meditation,
thought, analysis, critique, comparison, taking notes, highlighting and emphasizing ideas,
following and evaluating arguments, and summarizing the whole.

vi. Speed reading - is a collection of techniques for increasing reading speed

without affecting understanding or recall.

vii. Proof-reading - is a type of reading done to look for grammatical errors.

viii. Independent Reading - Students read independently and aloud while

remaining silent. For the children to understand what they are reading, the choices
must be in their reading level.
ix. Guided Reading- Small groups of students who read at the same level
participate in guided reading.
x. Shared Reading - an interactive reading experience in which students
participate in or share the reading of a book or other text while being directed and
supported by a teacher.

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
Interpretation of non-linear text: constructing and using statistical tables,
indices, maps, graphs.

a) A non-linear text - is a spoken communication medium in which the words or

word sequences can vary from reading to reading due to the structure, traditions, or
mechanics of the text rather than being just one fixed series of letters. Non-linear
information includes all forms of data that are presented alongside a text but are not
in the form of words.
b) Objects - Bringing the actual object to demonstrate on throughout the presentation
involves using objects as visual aids. For instance, you can use three items that are
all various sizes to elaborate on the terms short, shorter, shortest, etc. while
teaching comparative and superlative adjectives in English.

c) Models - Models are representations of other objects used to demonstrate an object

when the real object is insufficient or unavailable. In Biology class, for example, a
model of an eye, an ear, skeletal models, and so on. When the object being
discussed is of an inconvenient size or composition for use in the demonstration, a
model might act as a substitute that provides a better example of the genuine thing
to the audience.

d) Maps - Maps depict geographical areas of importance to the speaker and the
audience. They are used as help for discussing geographical differences or
demonstrating the location of something. Maps that are simple and straightforward
can be utilized to successfully communicate points about certain places.

e) Tables - Tables are made up of columns and rows that are used to organize words,
symbols, and data. Tables that are clear and well-designed are simple to understand.
They are a useful tool for comparing data and gaining a better general knowledge of
what is being discussed, but they can be overwhelming if there is too much
information in a short space or if the material is not structured in a user-friendly
manner.

f) Photographs - Photographs are useful tools for emphasizing a point or explaining

a topic. When the actual object cannot be seen, an image can be used. However, if

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline
 the photograph is too small, it becomes a distraction, and expanding it might be
costly.

g) Diagrams - When images do not show exactly what the speaker wishes to
demonstrate or explain, drawings and diagrams can be employed. It is also useful
when a picture is overly detailed.

h) Graphs - They are commonly used to illustrate relationships between different

variables. Graphs are classified into several categories, including bar graphs, line
graphs, pictographs, histograms, pie charts, line plots, map plots, frequency
polygons, box plots, steam and leaf plots, and scatter plots. Graphs assist the
audience in visualizing statistics, allowing them to have a stronger impact than
plain text.

August Intake 2024: Communication and Counselling Skills: Lecture Notes By: Abenaitwe Jackline