Chapter 7: Active Reading

Reading will benefit your writing in a number of ways. But how can you get the most out of your reading to make sure you will reap all of these benefits? You must learn to become an active reader. What do active readers do that makes them more successful at comprehending and retaining information?

• Active readers do more than just run their eyes over the text in front of them.
• Active readers interact with the text and think as they read.
• Active readers read with a pen or pencil in hand, marking key words or ideas or jotting notes in the margins (the white space next to the text).
• Active readers reread the text if necessary and try to connect the information in the text to their own experiences and beliefs.

The techniques that active readers use are essential to understanding and remembering ideas and information, especially when reading more challenging reading selections.

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Content adapted from the open course titled “Open Now Developmental English” authored by Cengage Learning, licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license.