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Home - College Skills - Reading Rate and Comprehension
Reading Rate and Comprehension
One or more of the following problems can plague even the most skilled or avid reader. Which ones have you struggled with?
I sometimes reread the same sentence over and over.
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I'm easily distracted when I read. |
I feel like it takes me twice as long as it should to do the reading.
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There's no way I can do all of the reading that I need to do - I'm overwhelmed! |
I do the reading, but 20 minutes later I have no idea what I just read. |
I'm managing at UAH, but I'm worried that I won't be able to handle the reading load in graduate school.
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I lose my place when I read. |
I don't know what I'm supposed to be getting out of the reading.
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I have problems with the reading for some courses, even though I read material for other courses with no problem.
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I spend so much time taking notes, that I never finish the whole reading. |
These kinds of problems shouldn't be surprising. Chances are, you're facing a much larger reading load than you did in high school - and a reading load that is comprised of a more diverse and challenging collection of texts. There are a number of possible explanations for problems with college-level reading:
- Distractions (stress, thoughts/worries that interfere with your reading, noisy or busy reading environment, phone calls and visitors)
- Unclear sense of the purpose of the reading (wondering, "Why am I reading this?
What am I supposed to remember from this reading?")
- Poorly written material (texts with poor organization, wordy or awkward sentences, or logical flaws)
- Dense, complex material (complicated ideas, sentences that contain several layers of meaning, material interspersed with formulae, problems, or illustrations)
- Inappropriate strategies for reading specific material (trying to read every kind of text using the same strategies or not thinking strategically about reading at all!)
- Physical problems (uncorrected vision problems, eye strain, migraines)
- Learning differences (dyslexia, attentional disorders, visual processing disorders)
Becoming aware of the problems, which can affect your reading comprehension and speed, will allow you to work towards an improved reading strategy.
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The Learning Enrichment Services can assist with the achievement of your academic goals. Contact the Programs Coordinator at 824-6731. |
