How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension

Improving your reading comprehension entails a number of methods that can result in a greater facility to read and enjoy magazines, books and newspapers. To read effectively you need to be interested in the subject, concentrate on the material you read and develop a disciplined approach to reading.

Instructions

1

Keep up to date on current events by reading a newspaper on a daily basis as well as current magazines, books and online publications. Developing an interest in the world around you can spawn a greater comprehenson in the material you read as well.

2

Look at the framework of the paragraphs you read. All paragraphs are constructed to have a beginning, middle and end. The first sentence in a paragraph typically furnishes a brief overview of the remainder of the paragraph, which incorporates the details or salient facts. Look for transitional cues or words that change the topic of a paragraph that lead you to a new paragraph as you're reading.

3

Look at how the reading material is organized and the reasoning used by the author. For example, is the material organized logically or chronologically or by some other means? Understanding the reasoning and the organization of the material can better reinforce your understanding of anything you read.

4

Highlight certain key ideas, summarize the material and review the relevant points. In other words, what knowledge did you acquire by reading a particular passage? Consider the specific points that the author is trying to convey. Highlight text so you can review it and better understand the meaning.

5

Carry a dictionary or refer to an online dictionary. If you're stumped by a certain word, look it up. You'll develop more of an appreciation of the material you read, as well as better comprehension, if you look up words that you don't understand. Therefore, make it a habit to look up words whose meanings are unclear or that you don't understand.