How to Read and Really Understand the Information

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Tips on how to read effectively for school, work, and leisure
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Do you find that you forget what you read soon after you read it? Do you have trouble focusing when you need to read several pages? Improving your reading comprehension can help! Your reading comprehension is just your ability to read something, understand the information, and integrate it into the other information you already know. Improve your reading comprehension and you'll learn and retain more information to get more out of reading. Read on to learn what you can do today to better understand what you read.

Improving Reading Comprehension

  1. Skim the material first and do background research if necessary.
  2. Read actively, taking notes and marking up the text.
  3. Ask questions to better understand and relate to the material.
  4. Write a summary in your own words paraphrasing what you read.
  5. Revisit your notes and summary periodically to refresh your memory.
1

Eliminate distractions.

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    To read closely, find a comfortable spot where you can sit and focus on the text. Make sure the area is well-lit and you have snacks, water, or anything else you might need nearby. Turn off notifications on your phone and do what you can to shut out anything else that might distract you. [1]
    • If you find it hard to concentrate in complete silence, some soft instrumental music in the background might help.
    • In a public place, such as a library or a café, you might want to try wearing headphones (with or without music) to isolate yourself.
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2

Look through the pages you're going to read.

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    Flip through the material you need to read to get a sense of how it's organized and the information included. Pay attention to the way the material is divided and subdivided and how much ground you're going to cover. This also lets you know what the main idea or focus of the text is. [2]
    • As you skim, think about the topic or main idea covered and the information you already know about that topic. This can help you figure out if you need to do some background reading before you tackle this material.
    • It also helps to have a goal in mind as you get ready to read the material. [3]
    • For example, if you're reading something for a class, your goal might be to learn more about the topic of the next lecture.
3

Do background research if necessary.

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    It's much easier to understand what you read if you can fit it into context with other information that you already know. If you don't know anything at all about the topic, you'll have a hard time reading with any continuity because you'll have to stop and look things up all the time.
    • Getting a little background knowledge about the topic ahead of time is a good way to read more efficiently so that you'll get more out of everything that you read. [4]
    • Wikipedia pages can be good sources for a top-level summary that will give you a good basic understanding of a topic you're not super familiar with.
    • You might also read reviews or summaries of the material you're about to read (you can always save these for afterward as well).
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4

Read the material closely and actively.

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    While reading, ask open-ended questions to dig deeper into what the material is trying to say. Simply asking "why" after every sentence is often enough to get you thinking about the material on a deeper level. [5]
    • Asking questions turns reading from a relatively passive activity into an active pursuit. When your brain is engaged, you'll tend to understand better and recall more.
    • Asking questions also allows you to pinpoint precise parts of the text that are giving you trouble so you can fill in the blanks where necessary to unlock a greater understanding of the text.
5

Read the material aloud.

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    Research shows that when people read aloud , they tend to remember the material more consistently than they would if they read it silently. This memory-boosting effect also enhances your understanding of the text because you have a more accurate recall of it. [6]
    • Poetry and a lot of prose have a rhythm and inherent lyricism that makes it a much more profound experience when read aloud.
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6

Use context clues when you don't know a word.

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    Typically, when you run into a word you haven't seen before, you can still get a general idea of what it means if you just take a look at the rest of the sentence. While this won't give you a perfect understanding, it should help you understand enough to get the basic idea of the text. [7]
    • Even if you use context clues to figure out what a word or phrase means by yourself, it's always helpful to take a moment to learn the true definition.
7

Build your vocabulary.

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    The more words you know, the more material you can breeze through without having to stop to look up a word or figure it out from the context. If you don't have a large vocabulary, spend 5 to 10 minutes a day learning new words and you'll find that you start to understand what you read better. [8]
    • Keep a list with words and phrases you learn along with their definitions so you can refresh your memory every so often to expand your vocabulary , which will also help you better understand what you read.
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8

Look up information you don't know.

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    If you don't understand the meaning of a specific word or reference, it can seriously impede your ability to understand the material. Make a note of anything you don't know so you can look it up as soon as you reach a good stopping place. [9]
    • When you return to the material, re-read the paragraph where the word or phrase appears, applying your newfound knowledge to reach a deeper understanding of the text.
    • It also helps to orient your reading by looking up general information about any places mentioned or time periods discussed. Then, you can put your reading in context.
9

Annotate as you read.

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    If you have the ability to do so, being able to mark up the text will help you read more actively and really improve your reading comprehension. You'll have to think about which words or phrases you underline, and why, and how those parts relate to everything else in the material you've read. [10]
    • Writing comments in the margins is another good way to get a better understanding of what you're reading.
    • Include notes with your own thoughts or reactions as well to trigger an emotional reaction to the material, which will help you remember it better.
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10

Create an outline of the text.

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    Set up a separate document that you can use to create a basic outline of the material you read as you read it. This will help you see the underlying structure of the material and how the information is connected. [11]
    • In your outline, include any questions you have or things you want to look into further.
    • These will also help jog your memory as you're reviewing so you can tackle those for a greater understanding of the text.
11

Summarize each paragraph as you read.

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    This is a good way to check your understanding of each paragraph before you move on with your reading. If you misunderstood or are unable to summarize a paragraph, go back and read it again slowly to try and figure it out. [12]
    • If you can write your summary directly on the page, it will also help you navigate the material later if you're reviewing and want to re-read something specific.
    • When you're done reading the material, you should be able to put all of your summaries together and get a cohesive overall summary of the material you've read.
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12

Visualize the concepts you're reading.

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    You might imagine you're a movie director and cast the movie of the material in your mind and watch it play out. Especially if you're reading about events that happened, picturing the scene will help you better understand what's going on. [13]
    • Visualizing also helps the material come to life in a way that it doesn't while it simply remains words on a page.
13

Relate the material to your own life.

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    When you make connections between the material you've read and your own life, you make that material a part of you in a way. It becomes much easier to understand and recall because it's attached to other memories. Any way you can relate the material to something you're already familiar with will enhance your overall understanding. [14]
    • It's helpful to put the material in context as well. You might look up other articles that reference what you've read or read online reviews to understand how it was received.
    • If there are other authors who write similar material or share a similar school of thought, connections between those authors can also help you discover connections between the material and the world around you.
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14

Recall what you've read.

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    Once you've finished a section of the material, open a fresh document and attempt to write a short paraphrase of what you read. If you're unable to write anything cohesive, go back and read that section again. If this happens repeatedly, start breaking your material into smaller sections that you can recall more easily. [15]
    • The act of paraphrasing the material requires your mind to use the information you've just read to create something, which helps you understand it better.
15

Take frequent breaks while reading.

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    You'll gain a better overall understanding if you read short chunks of material and then take a break to process what you've read. [16]
    • For example, you might read for 45 minutes, then go outside and take a walk for 15 minutes to give your mind a rest and return to reading with a renewed focus.
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16

Revisit your notes later.

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    Pull out your notes a day later and see how much you can recall. What have you learned since you read that enhances your understanding of the text? Do this once a week or so, or whenever you read something else on a similar topic, to build a deeper understanding. [17]
    • When you continually revisit your notes, they become familiar to you—which means the topics discussed in those notes will become familiar to you as well.
17

Discuss the material with others.

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    If your reading was school- or work-related, you might talk it over with classmates or coworkers. Mention things that you didn't understand while reading and encourage others to do the same. Explaining something to someone else increases your own understanding as well. [18]
    • You can also share the material with people you know. Even better if they aren't familiar with the topic—you'll have to explain more, which can really boost your understanding.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I retain knowledge when taking an exam?
    Emily Listmann, MA
    Academic Tutor and Life Coach
    Emily Listmann is a Private Tutor and Life Coach in Santa Cruz, California. In 2018, she founded Mindful & Well, a natural healing and wellness coaching service. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. Emily also received her Wellness Coach Certificate from Cornell University and completed the Mindfulness Training by Mindful Schools.
    Emily Listmann, MA
    Academic Tutor and Life Coach
    Expert Answer
    Try looking up different note-taking methods online to find one that works best for you while you are reading. For example, Cornell Notes and concept mapping are both popular note-taking methods.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 49
  • Question
    How do I learn to better comprehend historical information?
    Emily Listmann, MA
    Academic Tutor and Life Coach
    Emily Listmann is a Private Tutor and Life Coach in Santa Cruz, California. In 2018, she founded Mindful & Well, a natural healing and wellness coaching service. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. Emily also received her Wellness Coach Certificate from Cornell University and completed the Mindfulness Training by Mindful Schools.
    Emily Listmann, MA
    Academic Tutor and Life Coach
    Expert Answer
    The brain is not meant to remember isolated names, dates, and facts. Think of history in a larger, more connected sense by trying to find out more context for historical events and understand their larger significance instead of just a timeline of events.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/general-education/improve-reading-comprehension-college/
      2. ↑ https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies/reading-techniques
      3. ↑ https://faculty.washington.edu/smithant/DukeandPearson.pdf
      4. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/reading-comprehension-tips/
      5. ↑ https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies/reading-techniques
      6. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20438265
      7. ↑ https://faculty.washington.edu/smithant/DukeandPearson.pdf
      8. ↑ https://faculty.washington.edu/smithant/DukeandPearson.pdf
      9. ↑ https://faculty.washington.edu/smithant/DukeandPearson.pdf
      1. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/reading-comprehension-tips/
      2. ↑ https://www.uwec.edu/academic-skills-center/resources/reading-in-college/
      3. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/reading-comprehension-tips/
      4. ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/home-family-urban/the-importance-of-reading-comprehension/
      5. ↑ https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/general-education/improve-reading-comprehension-college/
      6. ↑ https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies/reading-techniques
      7. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/reading-comprehension-tips/
      8. ↑ https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies/reading-techniques
      9. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/reading-comprehension-tips/

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