<p>If you can improve CR by reading, what are some effective strategies one should focus on while reading? I'm guessing that I should no longer slack off in my English class and try to understand the books assigned rather than use Sparknotes. Should I spend a great deal of time on the books if CR/writing is my weakest subject?</p>
<p>no, you cheat to improve lolz.</p>
<p>Eh, reading can help, if you're doing upper level reading. The main thing that reading helps is not only seeing new vocabulary, but seeing it in proper context- and so you learn a lot of new words, properly.</p>
<p>Other than learning new words, the other part is really just learning about the CR section itself- and that is where reading can help you again. I started reading the NY Times and the WSJ (WSJ I get rarely, I can get a hard copy of the Times for free at school every day- you can read the times online for free though). The NYT isn't as well written as the WSJ (lower reading level), but it's still good to practice being able to read long articles and asking questions to yourself about them.</p>
<p>EDIT: If your school pays for online databases, or if you have a library card, you may have access to the WSJ online, you should check on your school and library websites. With my library card, I have WSJ access now.</p>
<p>oh really? I always wanted have an acess on WSJ!</p>
<p>Xiggi tip - buy an old Real SAT book and write in the correct answers (except for analogies) and then read through the sentence completion and reading passages. This is more efficient... especially if you haven't been an avid reader of higher level literature for some time.</p>
<p>This may sound weird, but the Harry Potter series (especially the later books) have some good vocabulary in context... especially if you're one of those students who would fall asleep reading the WSJ.</p>