September 27, 2020

Reading in College covid-19: day 190 | US: GA | info | act

“Raise your hand if you know how to read.” A hand or two went up and a couple more followed more reluctantly, as if I asked a trick question. “Readers? Who knows how to read?” I surveyed the room as a couple of people chuckled like you might at a silly question from a child. A few more hands went up. “Readers? Where are my readers?”

This is a game I often play in my World Literature orientations. My attempt is to emphasize care and deliberation in reading for the class. When most of the students have their hands raised—“Shouldn’t you all have your hands up?” I chide—I ask my follow-up question: “OK, how do you read? Ma’am?” I point to one of the earlier hand-raisers, usually a woman. “Eliminate distractions,” she suggests. “Yes! What else do we need to do?” I go on like this until they begin to see my point.

I understand this question is akin to one like “how do you ride a bike?” It’s not one we’re used to contemplating, since we’ve been doing it for years. It’s second-nature, now, so we just read. I know this is true, but I want to call attention to the process in order to emphasize retention, comprehension, and interpretation. I know we all read, but how do we read? I want to suggest strategies for reading in college—or reading when it matters.

Develop a reading habit. Strong readers enjoy reading and do so frequently. Face it, you will never be good at something that you don’t like, and as Patrick Sullivan argues, reading is an essential aspect of college that should be embraced well before you you enter. Reading, Willard Dix emphasizes, helps to expand our imaginative capacities, and prepares us to add to the world’s conversations. Hopefully, you will have read some important texts in high school, and you are ready to take advantage of the opportunity to expand your cultural understanding and with it, your involvement in a larger community. It’s never too late to start. Set aside dedicated time for reading: Make a schedule and stick to it, whether it’s 30 minutes before bed or an hour on the weekend.

Do the reading. This one might seem obvious, but often students try to rely on plot summaries or study guides as surrogates for the actual text. This strategy will be frustrating, as you will miss everything that makes literature worth your time. Literature is much more than just narrative, but your greater understanding begins with a careful reading of the primary text. After each chapter or section, write a brief summary of the plot, including setting, characters, and themes, or you could even tell a friend about what you just read.

Take notes as you read. The act of writing something down helps to solidify it in your memory. Keep a notebook for reading: use paper or a digital notepad. I take copious notes as I read, like character names, expressions of themes, ideas I have, troublesome passages, and the like. I make sure to include page numbers, so I can find important passages again easily. I add to these notes as I discover new examples of them: like significant character development; a repetition of a symbol; or a new occurrence of a similar theme. I write notes on the text so I can remember what I was thinking or what struck me as I read. I highlight or underline significant passages so they stand out when I refer to them again. This is called active reading and is crucial for better comprehension and a more nuanced reading. For example, see my reading notes on The Faith of Graffiti or The Cherry Orchard.

Read actively: Instead of just passively reading, engage with the text by asking questions, making predictions, and connecting to your own experiences. Read widely: Try different genres and authors to broaden your literary horizons and gain a better understanding of the world.

Consider the following as you read or reread the text.

1. Identify the main themes: Look for recurring ideas or concepts throughout the text. Consider how the author develops and explores these themes.
2. Analyze the characters: Consider the motivations, actions, and development of the characters in the text. Pay attention to how they interact with each other and how they relate to the themes.
3. Study the symbolism and imagery: Look for symbols and images that the author uses to convey meaning. Consider how they relate to the themes and characters in the text.
4. Consider the author’s style and technique: Analyze the author’s use of language, literary devices, and structure. Think about how these elements contribute to the meaning of the text.
5. Relate the text to the context: Take into consideration the historical, cultural, and social context in which the text was written. This can help to understand the author's message and how it applies to the world today.
6. Think critically: Don’t just accept the author's message at face value; instead, question, analyze, and evaluate the text.

Read it again. I know you are busy; it’s a wonder how we make it through the day sometimes. However, if you are able, read the text again. Multiple readings increase your familiarity with the text and begin to uncover elements you might have overlooked the first time. Like a private investigator looking for evidence, you should consider texts puzzles or mysteries to be solved, and the textual clues are often subtle only to be uncovered with careful and deliberate reading. If you are able, read the text multiple times; you might be surprised at the little details that present themselves to you.

What are some strategies that you use to engage a text? Why not share them by clicking the discussion icon on the right.

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