Welcome to the Above PAR Reading Strategy Workshop.
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Here’s today’s workshop agenda—what we’re going to do during the
workshop.
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Once you have your reading activity needs, start reading your textbook (start with
the beginning of the chapter, any chapter) and time yourself for 5 minutes. Go.
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Frustrated with these questions? I didn’t give you very much reading time to be able
to answer these questions, did I? But then again, with all the reading you have to
do, the point of this exercise is to highlight the fact that you often don’t have enough
time to do everything you’re supposed to do.
How did you attempt the reading activity you just too? How many of you started at
the beginning of the paper and tried to make your way to the end, without giving
much thought to the objective?
Some of you may have sought out speed reading course, thinking that will solve the
dilemma; however, the problem isn’t your reading speed, it’s your approach.
Most people approach reading the same way
a they
the watch
atch TV
TV—in
in a passive,
passi e
inattentive way. And yet for reading to be effective, you need to take a different
tack.
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And by different tack, I mean critical reading. By “critical” I don’t mean finding fault
with the written material, I mean reading that is purposeful.
Reading for study is different that reading for pleasure. Reading for study is
intensive and full of new concepts, so you need to learn how to utilize critical
reading skills.
You can learn critical reading skills with my Above PAR reading strategy.
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Through three easy stesps, the Above PAR reading strategy specific helps you to
learn how to read critically.
Above PAR reading strategy stands for…
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Think of the Above PAR reading strategies in iterate steps, with the PREVIEW being
Step 1.
No matter what textbook you’re reading, you should first preview the material for
certain items. This is not a time to start reading word for word, but rather a quick
perusal to set the stage for your study period and given you a general idea of what’s
to come.
Having a good general idea of what you’re going to read before you actually read it
will help you better understand AND remember the material.
Not only that, gaining an understanding of the structure will help you develop a
deeper understanding
nderstanding from your
o r full
f ll reading of the material and in tturn
rn will
ill help later
with recall.
Lastly, don’t preview passively—like you were watching TV. Put yourself in an
interactive mode and think about your approach to reading. If you think it’s going to
be a drag, then it will be. If you’re enthusiastic and attentive to your reading
assignment,
i
t you’re
’ concentration
t ti is
i going
i tto soar.
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Step 2 of Above PAR reading is the process of active reading. This is really the
essence of Above PAR and involves a systematic process.
While one complete active reading may not produce a full understanding, it’s a lot
better than constant regressions. Plus, done in combination with a preview, the
process of active reading helps you focused, attentive, and stimulated.
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The 3rd and last step of Above PAR reading deals with recall.
The how’s of Recall: After reading a section of material, stop reading, close the
book, and review the material you have just read by using one of the following
review techniques
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While active reading is the essence of Above PAR, recall is the key to its success.
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Yes, this is time-consuming and takes some effort; however, the benefits to Above
PAR far out weight the concerns.
The act of
• Questioning
• Taking notes
• Putting YOUR thoughts into words
Forces you to
• Understand what your are reading,
• Reinforces your memory of it AND
• Distills it for study later on when preparing for an exam.
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Go ahead. Try it again, only this time use the Above PAR reading strategy you just
learned.
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Critical reading which calls for active questioning and constant evaluating. This is
the opposite of passive reading because it requires you, the reader, to get into an
interactive mode or take an active, attentive approach to reading.
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