How Do You Become An Intelligent Reader?
• Be an Active Reader Since reading of any sort is an activity, all reading to some degree must be active. Completely passive reading is impossible. Try reading with your eyes immobilized. Ask questions of the article or book in front of you and declare your desire to read for understanding, not skim for information. • Know Your Goal It is important to know what you intend to draw out of the written material. We read for one of three reasons: information, understanding, or entertainment. If it is information you seek, realize that you must be on the same level of understanding as the author in order to comprehend the information’s meaning. If you realize that you know that you don’t know the author’s message, then seek outside assistance in the form of a commentary or an advisor. Know How to Read on All Four Levels The four levels of reading are as follows: elementary, inspectional, analytical, and synoptical. Elementary reading is the most basic form and it means simply being able to
