<p>So like most college students, I hate reading college textbooks. It literally takes me 4 hours to get through 20 pages, I timed it. It is terribly frustrating because it ruins my schedule and leaves with very little time to study for my other classes. I have 4 classes and getting through my biology and economics(which are just intro classes)text book readings take up 8 hours of my day leaving me with literally no time for my math and geology class. I have tried various outlining methods but nothing works, it only makes me take even longer. I'm not the guy who can just breeze through readings, I really have to sit down and break everything apart sentence by sentence. Am I just dead retarded, or am I doing something wrong? Is there a better way to read a textbook in a way that is faster and more efficient, while still learning? I can't keep doing this, it is ruining my academic life and frustrating me beyond limit. What do I do?!?! Please help!!</p>
<p>You need to learn how you learn. Or learn how to learn WHILE reading. Heres what I like to do and it usually works out depending on how difficult the reading may be. First, understand fully what you are about to read, you are not just reading you are learning. I go through the chapter or section whatever it is, and take mental note of each sub section. Like, ya know, the bold section titles…Or if it helps, actually write down these titles of the sections and as you finish a section literally read it AGAIN and really take it in, and then take some notes. Taking notes in your own words can really really help you comprehend the material. Because its YOUR notes. </p>
<p>Also, is it time consuming for you because the material is very diffictult to understand? Or are your reading habits or skills not college level? If you are not a good reader, do not worry alot of college students are not ready to handle the amount and complexicity of reading in college. You WILL learn to read. Also you will learn how learn if you read. Continue with it, maybe ask a advisor or tutor.</p>
<p>The material really isn’t too complicated, and I’ve completed my college level english requirements for school so doesn’t that mean my reading skills should be college level? I mean I don’t know what’s wrong with me. To be honest with you my focus really drags while I read(especially when I read economics), so when I snap back into focus I realize I just read the words without comprehending them. So then I have to go ALL the way back and read it again. Sort of like when you’re in class and you space out, and you can hear your professor but your mind isn’t there. I can read through a philosophy text with ease, but when it comes to economics it just doesn’t click.</p>
<p>Best way to read the chapter:</p>
<p>From left to right.</p>
<p>Ok, so you have what I and more than likely alot of students have. Boredom. Reading, especially college stuff, because its mandatory instead for hobby is always going to be boring. It is supposed to be! Think of it like, and it may make it easier. Its supposed to be boring!</p>
<p>But for some tips, I do that sometimes to, but Im so aware of the fact that i might engage in mindless-reading that I have trained myself to whenever I get off track I stop, back track, and re-read. It took some practice. Nothing is wrong with you man, your just a little discouraged because of a few hic-ups. Remember what I said, and also seek advice from others.</p>
<p>You might check to see whether there is a study guide for your textbook. It will not be free, but it might be helpful. You can also do a Google search with the name of your textbook plus the words companion website. Some publishers (Pearson and Prentice Hall come to mind) are really good about having the websites. If you are using a new edition, you may have to look for an older edition because publishers are cutting costs by eliminating them. The companion website may have outlines, objectives, flashcards, quizzes, and sample essay questions. If those things don’t work, take a look at Virginia Tech’s SQ3R study method–just do a Google search and it will pop up. It is a lot of work, but if you do SQ3R, your study guide will be prepared when it is test time.</p>
<p>The last idea is a note-taking method. Split your notebook paper down the middle. On the left side, take notes from your textbook–before you go to the lecture on the chapter. When you go to class, take notes from lecture on the right side using a different ink color. If the prof says anything that you already noted from the text, just put a star by it–no need to re-write it. Anything that you think will be tested goes on the back of the page. This method is great for a prof who really lectures from the book, or one who doesn’t lecture from the book, but expects you to know the information. </p>
<p>All of these things take time, but it sounds as though you are spending plenty of time already and this will save you time when it is time to study.Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks man, because I really felt like I was coming down with severe ADHD. But how do I deal with shortening up the time I take to read?</p>
<p>The more you read, the faster you will get.</p>
<p>haha it seems like no method is time efficient X( Crap, oh well. Thanks anyways guys :)</p>
<p>It all takes time, but the more you get into the subject, the easier it should be to read. Now there is a big learning curve with all the new subjects and their related terms and the higher level vocabulary.</p>
<p>I just skim to the summary of the chapters my textbooks… I’m serious, not trolling. I’m only reading textbook b4 I go to bed to get a sense of what tmr’s lecture will be about. Most of my classes’ tests based heavily on lectures, so… :)</p>
<p>One suggestion would be to leave an X on the sentence/paragraph that you think is important. Don’t highlight. Why? 1) Time-consuming - you save 2s for marking an X instead of highlighting 2) Can’t sell on Amazon/Ebay at “Like New/Very Good” price LOL. It’s super fast. Just my 2 cents, hope that helps.</p>
<p>Some subjects are more technical than others and you have to read and pick up on little details because they make a difference. This shouldn’t be the case in intro econ (I’m a jr econ major). Since time is scarce, you can’t devote yourself to doing detailed reading in every one of your classes. Maybe in some classes you can rely more on lecture notes, which if done right, can be a great summary and then you won’t even have to go through the text. In other classes you can read in a general manner from the text so you have more time to read the text for the more technical classes. The key is finding a balance because reading every detail for every one of your classes will get you nowhere.</p>
<p>Skim the chapter before the topic is covered in class. Look at the introduction, the summary and the main subheadings. Those are the structure of the argument. Ignore all boxes, charts, pictures etc. </p>
<p>Go to class. Take good notes.</p>
<p>Then go back and read the chapter again. Repeat what you did in step #1 but this time take a look at the questions at the end of the chapter. See if you can find those details. Dig for specifics as your very last step. </p>
<p>Keep going back to the summary as necessary to keep the big picture in your mind. See if you can explain the chapter to an uninformed friend in less than a minute so that it makes sense to them.</p>
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<p>Not necessarily. Many people aren’t up to the level that a lot of college textbooks are written at. They pack a lot of information into every paragraph. Some people read fast, some read slow.</p>
<p>It’s easier to concentrate if you’re well rested and well fed, as well as in study mode- having your phone and iPod and your laptop (usually with 10 different tabs open, if you’re like me) next to your textbook can be particularly distracting. Try reading a certain amount of pages, reviewing and seeing what you understood, then having a 5 minute water/social break. Then get back to work. This works for me and many other people I know.</p>
<p>What i do when i need to read from a textbook is I usually start by reading the chapter summary so i know what I’m reading and this allows me to go through the reading easier. You should balance between skimming and note taking, so have your note book and kind of read/ skim and as you see important stuff like bold words and definitions write down those types of things and when you see a def you don’t comprehend as well simply read that area more thoroughly. What this allows to do is read the material and you use another aspect of learning the material which is writing stuff down on paper. I find when i copy definitions i end up reading the definition multiple times as well. Then once you have finished the chapter not only have you read and comprehended the material better by writing down the information, but now you have a nice summarize version to reference, study, reread, and later on you can use it for finals.
hopes this helps</p>
<p>Just know what information is most important. Read those significant parts and skim the rest.</p>
<p>I make myself an outline before I read a chapter, to make the process smoother and so that I have a general understanding of what I’m reading. Before starting the reading, I page through the chapter and in my notebook I write down the headings and the sub-headings (usually in bold) for every section of the reading and underline them and leave space underneath. Then after I read each of those sections, I write down everything important I can remember from that section in addition to any vocab terms in the space below. I’m a slow reader too, using this method it takes 7-8ish hours to read a 30 page chapter, but I have no life and I don’t mind sitting in the library doing homework all day/night :-/</p>
<p>Read it normally first, try to get a more conceptual and broad understanding of the material. Go to lecture and take good notes there. Then, during the weekend or sometime in the near future, re-read the textbook and read the parts that was covered in the lecture closesly.</p>
<p>It depends on the lecturer (bad teachers are ones that take test materials primarily from the readings, rather than lecture IMHO), but most lecturers test materials that they taught in class. The book is usually supplemental.</p>
<p>Save all your reading until two days before the exam. You’ll be under so much pressure that you’ll be able to read the book without any distractions.</p>
<p>Bad idea. Don’t do this.</p>