Wall Community Library
Active Reading Strategies
by Libbi Sykora
Sometimes when you read a book that is unappealing to
you, you find yourself only reading the words, not comprehending them. Active
reading is something that will aid you throughout your life. After all, what’s
the point of reading anything if you can’t absorb or comprehend it?
Tips for active
reading:
1.
Mark or
highlight in the book.
Highlight important words or
phrases. This will make them easier to find in your book, and it will help you
remember important details.
PLEASE do NOT write or
highlight in a library book. Something you can do instead is flag important
details with small sticky notes. If you use this strategy, please remove all of
the sticky notes upon returning the book to the library. (Thank you in
advance!)
2.
Ask
questions/clarify.
Take time when you read to ask
questions. Use the internet to research when the book was written, who wrote
it, and why it was written. Use every resource possible to clarify and answer
your questions. By asking questions, you can get a better understanding of the
literary work.
3.
React and
connect.
Listen to your thoughts and
feelings as you read. Try to put yourself in the character’s shoes in order to
think about how you would react if you were in that position. Make connections
to your own life. Can you relate to anything that has happened in the novel?
4.
Visualize.
When you are reading, try to imagine
everything in as great detail as possible. Using sensory details to put
yourself in the setting of the story.
5.
Predict.
Many authors use clues
throughout the novel to highlight themes and hint at what might happen next.
Whenever you come across something that might be important, flag it with a
sticky note or highlight it. Make predictions about the plot. When you have
finished reading, look back and see how close you came with your predictions.
These tips are extremely useful when reading a book for a
class or a book discussion group. It will make discussion and comprehension so
much easier for you.
Next Wednesday at 6:00 PM, there will be a book
discussion about The Perks of Being a
Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Even if you haven’t read the book, stop in
and take part in the discussion anyway. If you have seen the video adaptation
of this novel, read The Outsiders by
S. E. Hinton, and/or read The Catcher in
the Rye by J. D. Salinger, you will have plenty of connections to make with
The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It
is a coming of age novel to which everyone can relate.
If you have any questions, please contact Wall Community
Library by any of the following means. We are open at 407 Main Street on
Wednesdays from 12-7 PM, Thursdays from 9AM-12:30PM and 1:30PM-5PM, and Fridays
from 8AM-1PM. Feel free to call us at (605)-279-2929 or email us at wallcomlib@gwtc.net. Don’t forget to like
us on Facebook! Our name in this venue is Wall Community Library.
See you at the book discussion on Wednesday at 6:00 PM!
