TOPIC 3: READING

SKILLS
Communication skills 1
Ziliro Mchulu
0996923940
TOPIC OUTLINE
• Defining Reading
• Reasons For Reading
• Advantages of Learning Through Reading
• Reading Strategies
• Understanding The Structure of Discourse In
Reading
• Bad Reading Habits
DEFINITION OF READING
• Reading is the ability to understand words contained
in a document and make use of the knowledge for
personal growth and development (Dadzie, 2008).
• Reading is a complex “cognitive process” of decoding
symbols in order to construct or derive meaning from
a written document (Sheeda & Hanif-Ahmad, n.d).
• It is a process and a skill that enables us to understand
written words
DEFINITION OF READING
• Reading makes use of the sense of sight
• Those blind use the sense of touch using The Braille
• At the university the second important skill after
listening is reading : This is a key to successful study
too
• It takes practice to be a good reader hence you
need to develop good reading strategies
STAGES IN THE
READING PROCESS
• Reading as a process of interacting with a written text has 4 stages

•1. sensation
• First step
• This is the awareness that there is a written
document
• Printed or soft
STAGES IN THE
READING PROCESS
• 2. PERCEPTION
• After sensation you percept
• You interpret what has been seen (book, text
message, emails)
• You attach interpretation based on experience
and competency
• Meaning is also recognized at this stage
STAGES IN THE READING PROCESS
• 3. COMPREHENSION
• Continuous process of perception is called
comprehension
• Comprehension is the ability to understand the
meaning or importance of something
• You make your own meaning of the text
• The meaning created is based on personal experience
and language competency
STAGES IN THE READING PROCESS
• 4. reaction
• This is the last stage in the reading process
• In reading, a reaction is an idea evoked by the
reading experience
• Based on reading, the reaction can be physical,
emotional or intellectual.
• One can accept, criticize, reject, object e.tc
READING AS A
PROCESS
• READING AS A PROCESS IS INTERACTIVE IN NATURE
• This is an interactive process that goes on between the reader and
the text, resulting in comprehension .
• The text presents letters , words , sentences and paragraphs that
encode meaning.
• This is why writing and reading cannot be separated
• In writing there is encoding
• Reading decoding
READING AS A PROCESS
• AS A PROCESS IT DEMANDS BACKGROUND
KNOWLEDGE OF CONTENT AND LANGUAGE
• To fully comprehend a text one needs to
bring in previous knowledge and
experiences
• Must be conversant with the language
(grammar, sociolinguistics, Time, etc)
READING AS A PROCESS
• MEANINGS MAY DIFFER: (READER AND AUTHOR)
• In literature, when you write you die
• You cannot control the meaning of your text
• The difference in meaning may arise because:
• A reader fails to realize that there is deep and surface
meaning
• Failure to know the Connotative and Denotative meaning
• Not knowing the purpose of the author
PURPOSES FOR READING (WHY DO
WE READ)
•1. READ FOR PLEASURE
• This is done at free time for personal satisfaction
• You read to be entertained
• Little attention is needed
• Novels, plays, magazines, cartoons, memes,
jokes
PURPOSES FOR READING
(WHY DO WE READ)
• 2. READING FOR INFORMATION
• This is more attentive reading
• You read to locate information for use
• You identify main ideas and supporting points
• E.g Report, research papers, prescribed books,
manual books etc.
PURPOSES FOR READING
(WHY DO WE READ)
•3. STUDY READING
• This is a form of reading for information only that it is intense
and repetitive
• One reads to get information and retrieve it for academic
purposes
• The reading takes note of main ideas, supporting points,
counter arguments, proofs, etc.
• The essence is to meet academic demands
PURPOSES FOR READING (WHY DO
WE READ)
• 4. READ FOR GENERAL UNDERSTANDING
• “Read a wide range of courses not for the sake of
qualification or grades but for the sake of refining the
mind, explore poetry, literature, history, theology and
self improvement skills. Refine your mind, read and
study for the sake of your growth: nourish your brain”
• Chiwoza Bandawe (Associate Professor in Mental Health at University of
Malawi, College of Medicine)
ADVANTAGES OF LEARNING THROUGH READING

• 1. IMPROVES LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Readers have a richer vocabulary.
• The more you read, the more words you are exposed to.
• To know a language, read and speak more
• 2. EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE BASE
• In reading you engage with information
• “The best way to hide something from Black people is to
put it in a book”
ADVANTAGES OF LEARNING
THROUGH READING
• 3. EXPLORE NEW IDEAS
• When you read you are challenged to think and link issues
• This brings in new dimensions hence new ideas
• Through reading you meet new ideas that challenge popular
thinking
• 4. STIMULATES IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY
• Creative ideas are inspired by great works
• If you want to be a good writer read works of great people
ADVANTAGES OF LEARNING
THROUGH READING
• 5. MEMORY IMPROVEMENT
• Reading is an active process
• There is engagement with content
• By remembering you challenge your mind to be
active
• When reading a novel you remember setting,
characters, dates etc
ADVANTAGES OF LEARNING
THROUGH READING
• 6. STRENGTHENS ANALYTICAL AND THINKING SKILLS

• Since reading is an active process, you analyze

issues
• You think and critic hence improving brain
skills
• The skill is to learn to think and critic issues
• Think openly, be critical
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF READING OR (READING STRATEGIES)

• 1. PREVIEWING
• In previewing, you get a general idea of the text
• You do not read the whole text
• This helps one to know if the text will serve the reading purpose
• This can be done through: reading the title, author details,
introduction or abstract
• You can also read, main headings, sub headings , illustrations,
graphs, tables or diagrams and their captions
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF READING OR
(READING STRATEGIES)
• 2 SKIMMING
• Skimming is a selective reading method where you read
only the main ideas within a text to get an overall
impression of the content
• You focus on main points
• This helps to read more materials on the subject
• This is different to previewing because in skimming you
spend time on main ideas
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF READING OR
(READING STRATEGIES)
• 3. SCANNING
• Scanning is reading to locate specific information in a text
• This is fast since you segregate for the needed information
• This is to read in a bid to find what you want
• E,g looking for a name, date, phrase, formulae,
• Know the organisation of the text to quickly scan e.g
chapters, sections
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF READING OR
(READING STRATEGIES)
• 4. DETAILED READING
• This is a more focused and concentrated reading.
• You read a text slowly and carefully to get details
• You read to understand the text and concepts in it
• You pay attention to all details in the book since
the assumption is that everything written in it is
important
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF READING OR
(READING STRATEGIES)
•To read effectively, all the strategies
have to be used
•Use previewing to avoid wasting
time
•Apply detailed reading when you
have previewed and skimmed
 READING TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL
STUDY READING
• 1. BEFORE READING
• Know your background knowledge of the subject
• Prepare questions that you want to be answered in
the reading session.
• Or read the questions at the end
• Preview, skim and scan to get a sense of the overall
meaning
 READING TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL
STUDY READING
• 2. DURING READING
• As you read, evaluate your understanding and
comprehension of the text.
• Ask questions and reflect on what you are reading
• Link the information to what you already know
• Put the information in your own words in your mind
• Make notes as you read
• At times stop reading and ask yourself if the reading is
efficient
 READING TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL
STUDY READING
• 3. AFTER READING
• Take time to recall the information without looking at the
text
• Reflect deeply on the information now
• Look at your formulated questions (or text) and answer
them
• This will give you a picture of your understanding
• Plan next reading of the same based on your reflection
SQ3R METHOD OF STUDY READING

• SQ3R is a model of reading that will be discussed in this

course
• SQ3R was first developed by researchers at Ohio State
University.
• The SQ3R is an acronym for the five stages of the reading
process: Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review.
• SQ3R is a useful technique for understanding information
• It helps you to create a good mental framework of a subject
SQ3R METHOD OF STUDY READING

• 1. SURVEY (S)
• Before you start your reading, survey the material first to have an
overview of its contents.
• Know the text before wasting time reading it
• This can be done by Looking at the authors details, title, subtitles
• Heading and subheadings
• Read first and last paragraphs
• Look at the graphs, pictures and any illustrations
• Look at the questions at the end
SQ3R METHOD OF STUDY READING
• 2. QUESTION (Q)
• Make questions that can be answered during the reading
• This will give a purpose to your reading
• Take a heading and turn it into a question
• For example, if a heading in a chapter its about Types of tourism,
make a question by turning the title around: “what are the types of
tourism”
• Answer the questions in your own words, do not copy answers
directly from the text
SQ3R METHOD OF STUDY READING
• READ (R)
• Now you reading the material, try to find answers to your questions
• This is detailed reading
• You may want to take notes (summaries)
• Read more slowly for difficult parts and faster for easier ones.
• Increase or reduce your reading speed, depending on the level of
difficulty of each section
• Stop and re-read unclear sections.
• Use the dictionary
• locate the main idea of each paragraph
SQ3R METHOD OF STUDY READING
• RECITE (R)
• As you read, look away from your book and notes and try to
answer
your questions.
• This checks your learning and helps put that information in
your memory
• You can also write a summary from memory
• If you fail to answer questions or write a summary read again
or plan to read again
SQ3R METHOD OF STUDY READING
• REVIEW (R)
• You should review what you have read.
• After your study, check the notes you had made against
the original text to confirm accuracy
• Review your notes periodically in short sessions to
avoid an overload of information
• Look at the summaries and the answers made
• You can review the reading with a friend
SQ3R METHOD OF STUDY READING
• If you are able to abide to these processes, you
will be sure of a rich comprehension of your
study material.
• Note that the more you review and recite your
material, the better your recall.
• Challenge your mind
BAD READING HABITS
• 1. REGRESSION
• Regression is the unnecessary re-reading of material
• This is a waste of time
• Re-read material unless you absolutely have to
• Use a pointer when using the laptop or mark the line when reading to
avoid regressing
• If you regress with content sometimes just read another material
BAD READING HABITS
• 2. Vocalisation
• This is pronouncing the words when reading
• This slows down the reading
• The average person speaks at 150 to 200 words per minute. If you
vocalize, you can’t read faster than this rate because you have to read
the words at the rate you speak them. By contrast, advanced readers
read at 200 to 400 words per minute
• Visualise what you read
BAD READING
HABITS
• 3. READING ONE WORD AT A TIME
• This is a bad reading habit
• It slows down comprehension
• Causes regression
• Practice reading a chunk or a group of words
• Be focused when reading
BAD READING
HABITS
•4. Distraction and loss of attention
• Control internal and external noise

•5. Environment
• Read where you can read
• Don’t be too comfortable
• Do not read in bed
BAD READING
HABITS
•6. Reading just to follow time
• Read because you fill like reading
• Do not read just for formality
• If you are tired, break relax or sleep

•7. Reading posture

• Stay upright
• Lying in bed is dangerous
• Reading posture can affect your focus
 BAD READING
HABITS
•8. lack of preparation
•Some go to read without preparation
•What and where you will read should be
clear
READING ASSIGNMENT
• Understanding The Structure of Discourse In Reading
• Critical reading

• End of topic
•Next Topic: effective study
skills
• let’s stop here for today