Expect to have to do a lot of reading at University - course materials, weekly readings, supplementary readings, researched material and so on. Reading at University is not only sizeable, it is also complex and demanding.
You will often be required to do more than simply summarise material. You might be expected to critically analyse or evaluate it as well. Some texts are not easy to understand; they may contain unfamiliar structures and words or jargon. The amount and complexity of academic reading can take a lot of your time. In fact, many students comment on the amount of reading they have to do as one of the biggest hurdles to their time management.
There are ways you can learn to help manage this reading load, and become an effective and efficient reader. These include learning to recognise different purposes for reading, and the different techniques for achieving your purpose. It might surprise you to know that rarely do you need to read every word, nor will you start at the first word and finish at the last!
How can I enhance my skills?
Start by reading the Information Sheet on reading effectively (PDF 44k) from the Learning skills website.
Attend free Learning skills academic skills workshops on "Managing Your Reading".
What's expected of me?
- Recognise different purposes for reading
- Use different reading techniques to achieve my purpose
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