How to Really Read

The “really reading” concept dynamically connects the author’s intent with basic information to assist students with reading skill improvement.  When used wisely, the concept can help the student in preparing for quizzes and examinations. Every student should know that the author’s purpose is to share and pass on ideas to the reader.  Therefore, in order for students to “really read,” they must understand this relationship, as well as how to utilize the three basics of reading below:

1.  Know that the purpose of a sentence is to express a complete thought.

2.  Know that the purpose of a paragraph is to develop one idea.

3.  Know that the types of sentences that are contained within the paragraph are topic, supporting, and concluding sentences.

1. Topic sentences (not necessarily the first) always express the main idea.
2. Supporting sentences are sentences within the paragraph that support the topic sentence.  They reinforce the main idea by:  providing facts, details, explanations, examples, etc.
3. Concluding sentences are not always used; however, when used they have three functions: (1) Restating the main idea, (2) Summarizing information contained in the supporting sentences, and (3) Serving as a transition or connector to the next paragraph.

NOTES: 1) Sometimes authors use this technique in developing chapters and books — meaning that they may have introductory, supporting, and concluding paragraphs in chapters; and introductory, supporting, and summary chapters inbooks.  2) Paying attention to good writers helps us with sentence and paragraph construction.

An Example Of How Really Reading Helps A Student With Test Preparation

• The teacher states that that there will be a test on Chapter 10 in The Basic Manual. The student notices that there are 12 paragraphs in chapter 10.
• By this the student knows that the author has between 10 and 12 ideas to share in the chapter (The reason there may be only 10 is because the first paragraph may be the topic paragraph, and the last may be the concluding paragraph).
• The student locates the idea in each paragraph and notes how the author develops and explains it (the student should use the dictionary for help with unfamiliar words).
• The student can then prepare a set of comprehensive test questions on one sheet, and the answers to these questions on a separate sheet.  In this way, the student develops his own study notes and readies himself for the true false, fill-in, multiple guess, or essay questions that may be asked.

See the following video that explains the Really Reading concept