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Reading Strategies: Fiction and Nonfiction Text
Reading Strategies are used to determine the suitability of text and to improve your understanding and memory of text.
Before reading:
-Identify whether the text is fiction or non-fiction by looking at the title and front cover, reading the preview and studying the pictures, diagrams, headings, captions etc.
-Read the preview to gain knowledge of the text and to determine if you’re likely to enjoy the text.
-To determine reading level suitability, read the first page of the text. If you make 5 or more errors in the pronunciation of words, or if you find the text challenging to understand, it is likely that the text is too difficult for you to read.
-Make a prediction about the content of the text (what it is about) by looking at the title, front cover and reading the first couple of pages.
-Familiarize yourself with important words including bolded or highlighted words to expand your vocabulary and improve your understanding of the text.
-Identify the purpose for reading: for enjoyment, for knowledge, for an assignment, for research, for a test …
-Look over any comprehension questions or assignments related to the text to be familiar with the purpose and focus for the reading.
During reading:
-Highlight or write down words you don’t understand. Determine their pronunciation by breaking the words into syllables, sounding them out and paying attention to prefixes, root words and suffixes. Determine the meaning of unfamiliar words by using context clues, the meaning of prefixes, root words and suffixes, a dictionary, the internet or a helpful person. Add the new words to a personal ‘New Vocabulary’ booklet.
-Study pictures, diagrams, headings and captions before and during reading to gain a more complete understanding of the story, ideas and concepts.
-Monitor your comprehension:
As you read, adjust your reading pace (slow down or speed up), to help you understand the text. If the text is difficult, read more slowly.
Read text aloud. Read portions of the text or the whole text aloud. Reading aloud utilizes more of the senses than reading silently and can help with understanding text.
Reread sentences or sections of text that are not completely clear to you.
‘Stop and Think’ about the text to allow yourself time to process the information and to make sense of it.
-Visualize aspects of the plot, setting, events, characters (for fictional text) and visualize facts, ideas and concepts as you read; create an image, series of pictures or movie of the text in your mind or on paper.
-Ask questions about important ideas in the text. Determine if you are able to answer the questions or whether you need to re-read.
-Make inferences. Based on the information given in the text make assumptions and conclusions about the text. (Read between the lines.)
-Continue to make predictions to stay engaged and focused on the text.
-Make connections: text to text (connect the text you are reading to other text you have read on the same topic, genre, plot, setting, character type or theme); text to self (connect the text to something about yourself such as a personal experience); text to world (connect the text to a person, event or situation in the world).
-Write notes, create a graphic organizer (web, chart, Venn diagram, list etc.) or make a sketch of the main ideas as you read.
After reading:
-Re-read portions of the text or the whole text to improve your understanding and retention (memory) of the text.
-Determine importance of ideas in the text. Write notes, create a graphic organizer (web, chart, Venn diagram, plot mountain, list etc.) or make a sketch of the main ideas, after you have finished reading to confirm your understanding of the text.
-Ask/Answer questions. Factual/ literal questions involve finding information in the text, “reading the lines.” Inferential questions involve drawing conclusions, “reading between the lines.” Critical/analytical questions involve contemplating and studying the information in the text, “reading beyond the lines.” Asking and answering questions helps to confirm your understanding of text.
-Summarize the text to review, confirm and enhance your understanding of the text. Write sequential paragraphs expressing your understanding of the genre, plot, setting, characterization, mood, and author’s purpose.
-Retell the text. Share your knowledge by verbalizing your understanding to another person.
-Analyze the text. Make sense of the text.
For fictional texts, analyze the characters by reflecting on the personalities and behaviours of the protagonists (main characters) and antagonists (characters who oppose the leading character). Analyze the text by describing the significance of the setting, explaining the theme, completing a plot analysis (includes the introduction, story conflict (main problem), rising action, climax, falling action and the resolution (ending)). Draw conclusions about the text.
For non-fiction texts, categorize the information, compare (similarities) and contrast (differences) information in the text, or determine cause and effect. Analyzing text also includes considering your personal opinion of the text.
-Synthesize or transform your thinking: Use your previous knowledge and the new information gained from the text and put it all together. Based on the new information gained, you may want/need to transform (alter) your opinions, perspectives, conclusions regarding ideas in the text.