There are things can be done to immediately improve the ability to read more efficiently, as well as help general understanding of themes in any text. Whether it be a piece of classic literature, or a magnificent Suite101 article (and who says that one piece of writing couldn't manage to be both?), these speed reading tips will help the moment a reader picks up a book.
Reading Better Takes Time
The problem with any kind of quick-fix solution for reading problems is that it ignores a crucial fact for almost any skill: the key to learning how to read better is that the biggest contributor to improved reading skills is simply reading more often. Whether learning how to speed reading or not, it is important to read in order to become a better reader.
There are two major skills to acquire to become a good reader: reading speed and comprehension of what is being read. Most readers are more proficient in one or the other at first, but over time, and with enough reading, many readers can learn to adjust how they read a particular text to accommodate their time and needs.
Speed Reading
Speed reading is the best known variation of consciously trying to improve reading speed while still being able to retain information. Speed reading is often used by professionals and students of reading-heavy fields who have a large amount of text that has to be read and understood in a time too short to grant a longer, more exhaustive reading.
Myths About Speed Reading
Speed reading is not the best way to read any piece of writing. Instead, it is about having an understanding of material where the main idea is more important than the minor detail. Most who learn how to speed read use it for this purpose, and often revert to a slower pace, albeit still faster with knowledge of speed reading than without, when reading for enjoyment.
Speed Reading Tips: Before Opening the Book
Speed reading is more than simply reading the document quickly. An important aspect of speed reading is a broad understanding of the text before even reading the first page, so as to ensure that the important details are gleaned when they are quickly read amongst the rest of the material. In order to speed read properly, there needs to be a predetermined focus on what to pay close attention to and what to only give a cursory glance.
When speed reading, it's best to do the following:
- Read any summaries and introductions of the text that accompany it.
- Check out websites like Sparknotes and Wikipedia for general overviews of theme, plot, and characters.
- Look at criticisms and reviews to see what the experts had to say.
Reading Efficiently
After gaining a general understanding of what the piece is about, it's time to actually read the text! The first thing all readers should analyze is what they do when they read. Many people either read out loud or silently in their heads, but both of these can dramatically slow down overall reading speed.
A better way to read is to take sentences in small blocks of a few words at a time, and reading them without saying the words out loud or internally. By reading words in blocks, or "chunking," the meaning of individual sentences can be grasped much more quickly. This can be difficult to manage at first, but over time, it becomes a regular part of how many speed readers read.
Even Quicker Way to Read
One of the quickest ways to skim involves reading only the essentials, though this method works namely for long paragraphs. Try scanning paragraphs, especially long ones, by reading the first and last sentences. If it make sense how the introductory sentence reaches the conclusion of the paragraph as a whole, then it's time to move on to the next paragraph. If not, it's best to skim the middle of the paragraph the meaning becomes clear.
The basic tools to speed reading are simple, but important for utilizing this skill. Learning to read efficiently is doable by anyone, and can benefit all readers, regardless of age. Having a strong understanding of the overall text, reading groups of words rather than individual words, and omitting needless reading can make reading a longer work like "War and Peace" worlds easier.
Learn more tips for speed reading.
Try this free speed reading program!
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