Before Reading:
* Previewing the text: Skimming headings, subheadings, bolded words, images, and summaries to get a sense of the overall structure and content.
* Activating prior knowledge: Reflecting on what you already know about the topic to connect new information to existing schemas.
* Setting a purpose for reading: Determining what you hope to gain from the reading (e.g., understanding a specific concept, forming an opinion).
During Reading:
* Annotating the text: Underlining, highlighting, summarizing key ideas, and writing notes in the margins or a separate notebook. This could include questions, reflections, connections to other texts or personal experiences.
* Asking questions: Constantly questioning the author's claims, assumptions, and evidence. This includes questioning your own understanding and biases.
* Visualizing: Creating mental images of the events, characters, and settings described in the text.
* Making connections: Linking the text to your own experiences, other texts, or general knowledge. This could be textual connections (comparing and contrasting to other works), personal connections (relating to characters or situations), and world connections (relating to current events or historical contexts).
* Summarizing: Regularly summarizing sections or chapters in your own words to ensure comprehension.
* Monitoring comprehension: Checking for understanding and re-reading confusing passages.
After Reading:
* Reflecting on the text: Considering the author's purpose, main ideas, supporting evidence, and overall effectiveness.
* Evaluating the text: Critically assessing the credibility of the source, the author's bias, and the strength of the arguments.
* Discussing the text: Sharing your thoughts and interpretations with others to gain different perspectives and deepen your understanding.
* Applying the text: Connecting the information and ideas to your own life, studies, or other areas of interest.
In short, active reading is a dynamic process that requires conscious effort and engagement. It's about interacting with the text, not just passively consuming it. The goal is to extract maximum meaning and insight from the reading material.