Reading Strategies
Steps for Active Reading
After priming your brain to absorb information with pre-reading, you can focus on the article contents with active reading strategies. Here are the key steps for active reading.
1. Question the argument, the methods & use of evidence.
2. Read while thinking about how the source answers your questions.
3. Highlight key ideas, words, or concepts.
4. Write notes, questions, and images in the margins.
Highlighting and Margin Notes
The image below shows an example of how you can:
- Read a small section, then highlight only what you plan on using (key words & phrases)
- Use colours to separate topics or show connections
- Define new words & write down your questions (be critical!)
- Summarize key points related to your reading goal
Example of Highlighting and Margin Notes
Note. Adapted from Fiocco & Hunse, 2017, p. 7. CC BY.
Detailed Image Explanation
The image above is an example of a journal article section that has been marked up by a student using active reading strategies.
- The student has highlighted the citations they want to explore in yellow and made a note to themselves to look up these studies later. In APA style, it is always best to go to the source of a claim, as opposed to uncritically using second-hand knowledge.
- The student has summarized some of the paragraphs’ main points in the left margin with a mix of words and images. This will help them transfer key ideas to any tracking document they are using in preparation for developing a paper outline.
- New or confusing terms have been defined in the left margin. You can begin your own glossary for new terminology related to a research project to help build your vocabulary as you research.
- This student has highlighted pieces of useful evidence in blue. They have made a note that this is evidence may help them answer their research question in the margin as well.
References
Sketchnoting
According to a variety of sources (Meier, 2021; Rohde, 2013; Tolisano, 2015), sketchnoting is a form of visual notetaking that
- improves your processing and understanding of information (Rohde, 2013),
- makes a visual record of your learning,
- organizes your ideas, and
- engages the whole mind and body.
How to Sketchnote
- Read or listen to your source
- Think about the meaning and relationship to your reading goals
- Draw images, symbols, and words to summarize and represent ideas
Sketchnote Example
Note. Adapted from Tolisano, 2015.
Detailed Image Explanation
In the above sketchnote, a student took a bulleted list from this source and made it into a series of images and words to help them organize and process the information. The student used a numbered list to describe key concepts, and they used images to help solidify their understanding of the concepts they read. The key ideas the image shares are listed below.
1. You don't have to be "good at art" to sketchnote. Don't stress about making things look good; sketchnoting is about simple images and lines that help you internalize concepts. Simple illustrations of stick people and symbols like hearts or circles are great ways to do it!
2. Focus on ideas. Try to capture concepts using images. Is there a long description of a packaging process in a paper you are reading? Try illustrating key sections you need to use with a stick figure!
3. You can sketchnote anything. Lectures, books, journal articles, YouTube videos, and more are all up for sketchnoting!
4. Draw hierarchies and relationships. Try to visualize relationships between information using shorthand like pyramids, lists, or mind-maps.
5. Use images: You can use icons, stick people, bullet points, and more! Containers like circles and rectangles are helpful to group up related concepts.
6. Use words: Don't be afraid to use words to clarify your images.
References