About this Resource
Productive reading
Why spend time and effort reading a particular text?
Distinguishing between support and ‘front-line’ literature
How can you identify fit-for-purpose support texts to read in full or selectively?
Advance check: suitable support literature for your identified reading purpose
How can you identify fit-for-purpose front-line texts to read in summary or in depth?
Advance check: suitable front-line literature for your identified reading purpose
Scrutinising the efficiency of your academic reading habits
How efficient are you as a reader in your academic studies?
Reading strategies: scanning, skimming and intensive reading
Taking risks with your reading time and effort
Making the most of your reading time and effort: towards an effective compromise
Scanning a short text for specific information
Skimming long texts
Writing effectively
Arguing convincingly
Mapping your field
Literature reviewing
Reviewing the literature systematically
Developing proposals
How efficient are you as a reader in your academic studies? 


Evaluate your habitual approach to reading texts revealed by completing the diagnostic exercise in the form below. Try answering these questions:

  1. Does it matter whether you develop a consistent approach to reading texts? Why or why not?

 

 
  1. How important is it to develop an approach that allows for some texts turning out to be more relevant to your reading purpose than others?

 

 
  1. How far do you let the literature take charge of you by trying to learn about everything the authors of texts are writing about?

 

 
  1. How far do you take charge of the literature by keeping your academic purpose in mind and looking for information that will help you achieve it?

 

 
  1. How necessary is it to write notes on what you’ve read or is it enough to rely on your memory?

 

 
  1. Overall, how efficient is your habitual approach to reading texts, and what are the reasons for your self-judgement?

 

 
  1. Are there any aspects of your habitual approach to reading texts that you could try to change or new aspects to add that could improve your efficiency as a reader in your academic studies

 

 

To download and use this document – click  here