Module 3.2. Learn the differences between kinds of textbooks Learn ways to help students focus their reading and manage multiple or very large reading.

Module 3.2

Learn the differences between kinds of textbooks

Learn ways to help students focus their reading and manage multiple or very large reading assignments

Discover why note taking is important while reading

College students often have to read multiple books in each quarter

Each class may have multiple booksEven a strong reader may have

difficulty managing the reading load Students with poor reading skills find

themselves completely overwhelmed As a tutor it is important to address

this problem because it is common for many of the tutees you meet

There is a significant difference between a math class and a literature class Most students can recognize this

Many students still do not alter their approach to reading textbooks for different classes

Tutors should show tutees how books differ in the approach that needs to be taken to utilize them fully

Math textbooks should be used to practice strategies learned in class

Students should use the example problems and their English translations to understand basic procedures and concepts

Remember that in word problems EVERY WORD IS IMPORTANT!

Often based on mathematics and theoretical concepts

Many of these books are filled with pictures, graphs, tables, and other graphics

The readings include new terminology that students are often required to memorize and understand

Physical science textbooks are not supposed to be read from beginning to end

Students should think of these texts as encyclopedias for the class

If a student has difficult with a certain topic discussed in class they look up the information in the textbook for illustrations, examples, and sometimes different explanations for the subject

If students must read the chapters, they should read the introduction, summary, and review questions first to focus their reading on important topics

Tutees will get the most out of their books by using this technique because key concepts will jump out at the reader whereas with ordinary reading there are too many details to remember

Vary in the amount of illustrations present

Most include some form of review questions, summaries, and introductions

Students should use these resources to focus their reading

Social science textbooks should be thoroughly read, because many instructors use their lecture as a supplement for the text

If a textbook does not include tools within the chapter to help the student read actively When headings are present, they should

be turned into questions that are answered through the reading

Reading the introduction and summary if present and then reading the first sentence of each paragraph is helpful to understand the basic organization of the text

Pay close attention to author biases Often an author tends to favor one theory or

idea and most of the text will focus on their ideas rather than an equal amount of all viewpoints

Rely on lecture notes to fill in any gaps in the information presented in the book Because instructors are the test-makers their

opinions outweigh those of any textbook author when it comes to studying

In some ways the most difficult to wade through for most students are the novels presented in literature classes

There are no review questions, no headings, and no introductions or summaries to direct readers to the most important ideas

Still there are some tricks to getting through these texts

Students should take notes as they read either in the book or on a separate sheet of paper

Use later when studying Setting Characters Theme Plot underlying purpose

Lecture notes are very important when reading, especially if there is a class discussion before reading the text

Most instructors discourage such behavior but it can be helpful to students who have poor reading skills Understanding other people’s views and the

main ideas in a section of reading can help the student know what to look for

Students can also focus mostly on dialogue, rather than trying to read every word Plot tends to advance mostly through the

speech of the characters If dialogue gets confusing the student can

read a couple of paragraphs back to understand what the characters are saying

If dialogue alone does not work reading the first and/or last sentence of each paragraph is often helpful as well

Students can use extra materials to understand plot, characters, and important ideas for most novels Ex. Spark notes or other internet

resources These resources serve as a

supplement for a summary in other textbooks by focusing the reader’s attention on the key points as they read

Science Use

introduction, summary, review questions, and graphics

Use like an encyclopedia

Do not read from beginning to end

Social Science Not as many

graphics Still should be

introductions, summaries, and review questions

Entire chapters should be read

Literature• No graphics most of the time•No introductions, etc.•Use Spark notes or other web resources for summary•Read the dialogue for help understanding plot movement

Highlighting text If a student reads the introduction,

summary, and review questions first highlighting is an acceptable method for shortening the text

Watch for excessive highlighting Only mark key ideas or terminology that

you will need to review later

Tutors should encourage students to take notes either in the book or on a separate sheet of paper Kinds of notes vary between subjects Students should write down connections

between previous knowledge and what they are reading, examples, or questions about the reading

College reading can often be overwhelming either because of the amount or complexity of the reading required

Tutors should help students find methods for reading textbooks that meet the requirements of the class and individual needs

What are some key differences between reading texts for literature, physical sciences, and social sciences?

What are some basic concepts students should understand about reading textbooks?

What are some possible tips for students who have difficulty reading novels?