Reading Skills for Academic Study
Introduction – Exercise
What sort of things do you read?
What do you read in English?
Read some of the following texts. There are 30 different written texts.
- Try to identify the type of text. What TYPE of text is it?
- Who is the text written for? Who is the AUDIENCE?
- Why was the text written? What is its PURPOSE?
- How is the text STRUCTURED?
- What is your OPINION of the text? Which of the text types do you like reading? Which of them do you have to read (even if you don’t like reading them)? Which do you never read? Why?
- Why do you usually read this kind of text? What is your usual OBJECTIVE when you read these texts?
- And lastly, how does your purpose influence how you read? What METHOD do you use?
Some suggestions:
Text | Type | Audience | Purpose | Structure | Opinion | Objective | Method |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Novel | General | Entertain | Enjoyment: what happens | From beginning to end, following characters and story. | ||
2 | Recipe | Cook | Instruct | Ingredients/Method | ![]() |
Information: how to cook | Carefully, need correct ingredients and procedure. |
3 | Instructions | ![]() |
Information: how to repair | Carefully, need procedure. Make notes if required. | |||
4 | Business letter | ![]() |
Information: what do they want | Carefully if relevant. | |||
5 | Textbook | ![]() |
Information & ideas | Selective as required; in detail when necessary. Take notes if necessary. | |||
6 | Index | ![]() |
Information: find relevant pages | Quickly find relevant information. Then read text in detail. | |||
7 | Academic article | ![]() |
Ideas: conclusions | Read abstract, introduction & conclusion; read main part if details needed. Take notes if necessary. | |||
8 | Sonnet | ![]() |
Pleasure | Slowly and carefully. Repeat many times. Maybe read out loud. | |||
9 | Advertisement | ![]() |
Information – what & how much | Quickly unless interested, then details. | |||
10 | Local newspaper | ![]() |
Pleasure – pass time | Quickly find interesting information. Read carefully to pass time. | |||
11 | Local accommodation | ![]() |
Information : what is available, where & how much | Quickly find relevant information. Then read in detail. | |||
12 | Personal letter | ![]() |
Pleasure & information | Quickly find interesting information. Read carefully to pass time. may read again. | |||
13 | Novel | ![]() |
Enjoyment: what happens | From beginning to end, following characters and story. | |||
14 | Poem | ![]() |
Enjoyment | Slowly and carefully. Repeat many times. Maybe read out loud. | |||
15 | City briefing | ![]() |
Details: how your money is doing | Quickly find relevant information. Check regularly. | |||
16 | Dictionary | ![]() |
Details: find the word | Quickly find relevant information. Then details. | |||
17 | Job advertisements | ![]() |
Information what is available, where & how much | Quickly find relevant information. Then details. | |||
18 | Menu | ![]() |
Information: what you want to eat | Quickly find relevant information. | |||
19 | Rail timetable | ![]() |
Train times & prices | Quickly find relevant information. Need to check regularly. | |||
20 | Telephone directory | ![]() |
Someone’s number | Quickly find relevant information. | |||
21 | Text (SMS) message | ![]() |
Pleasure & information | Quickly read for information. Needs quick reply. | |||
22 | Television schedule | ![]() |
What is on, when? | Quickly find relevant information. | |||
23 | Weather | ![]() |
What is weather going to be like? | Quickly find relevant information. | |||
24 | Contents page | ![]() |
Find relevant information | Quickly find relevant information. Then in detail. | |||
25 | Memo | ![]() |
Information: what is required? | Carefully if relevant. | |||
26 | Play | ![]() |
Pleasure: what happens? | From beginning to end, following characters and story. May read out loud. | |||
27 | Holiday advertisement | ![]() |
What is available: where, when & how much? | Quickly unless interested, then details | |||
28 | Theatres | ![]() |
What is on, when? | Quickly find relevant information. | |||
29 | Travel | ![]() |
What is available: where, when & how much? | Quickly unless interested, then details | |||
30 | Cinema schedule | ![]() |
What is on, when? | Quickly find relevant information. |
Back to: Reading: Introduction Exercise