dos.help@uea.ac.

uk

dos.help@ue
Academic Skills Workshops
Regular workshops aimed at helping you to

• manage your time effectively

• become a better writer
a.ac.uk
• think critically.

Workshops take place most Tuesdays & Thursdays 1-2pm

(please visit our website for full details).

No booking is required, but places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

www.uea.ac.uk/dos/workshops

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 Reading Academic Texts

Learning Enhancement Team

Dean of Students’ Office
 Do you agree?

Reading is reading. Reading for an

assignment is no different from
reading in other areas of life, or
other levels of education.
What are your concerns about
reading academic texts?
So, in summary…

You will be expected to read more and to

read more quickly, accurately, critically
and selectively
 Why are you reading?
• There will always be a purpose to your academic reading.
E.g.:

• Research for an essay, report or other written assignment

• Preparation for a seminar or presentation

• Broadening of your subject knowledge

• Deciding on a dissertation topic

• Preparing for an interview

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 Deciding whether to read
something
•BE SELECTIVE:
•How much time do I have? Will the book or article really help
me?

•IS IT RELEVANT?
•Is it on the reading list!
•Survey the material:
• - Read the ‘blurb’ on the back
• - Use the index and contents pages
• - Look at headings and subheadings
• - Look for key words
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 What about reading?

Know what information you want

from a document before you start

reading it…

And read (and think) critically

Model to Generate Critical Thinking

Description
Who? Where?
When?
How?
What?
Analysis
Topic

What next?
Why?
So what? What if?

Evaluation
Learning Development University of Plymouth
Reading critically
• What is the writer saying?
• How are they saying it?
• Why do they say it this way?
• Who are they saying it to?
• What do I think about what
they say?
• Why am I reading it?
• What am I looking for?
• What will I use the text for?
• What question or problem
is the writer addressing?
• Are the claims based on
good evidence?
• Are the claims specific?
Can they be generalised?
• Is this part of a wider
debate?
• How does it compare with
what other people say?
 Different kinds of reading

• Skimming

• Scanning

• Surface

• Analytical
 Skimming
• To skim:

1. Look at the conclusion/concluding section

2. Look at abstract or summary, followed by the introduction
3. Read each section heading, then the first sentence in each
paragraph
4. Look for key phrases such as: “Firstly…”, “Secondly…”, etc.
These are clues to the main points.
5. Finally look at pictures and graphs.
(Davies, 2011:42)
 Scanning
• To scan:

1. Look for specific words/key words/information

2. Look for a pattern – alphabetical, chronological, thematic,
etc
3. You can use your fingers/ruler
4. Let your eyes do the work

Skimming scanning will increase the speed of your reading.

What is…

SPQ3R?
 What’s SPQ3R?
• SURVEY: why are you reading?

• PREVIEW: index and contents lists, chapter headings

• QUESTION: set goals for your reading

• READ: skimming and scanning

• REPEAT: re-read for comprehension, analysis and note taking

• REVIEW: have your questions been answered?

 How to improve your reading
speed
• Have a purpose for your reading.

• Use headings, subheadings and highlighted text to locate relevant information.

• Don’t stop to think about the meaning of every word.

• If you find something too difficult to read, try reading a text book or overview first.

• Skim read first to get the general meaning, then scan for the relevant pieces of
information.

• Only read analytically when you are sure that the book or article is relevant.
Clear, organised notes help you to:

• maintain your interest while reading

• see the connections between the ideas of different
writers
• gain a deeper understanding of a topic
• plan an answer to an assignment question
• identify “gaps” in your knowledge
• review a topic – to keep it fresh in your mind
• avoid plagiarism
 Making effective notes
Before reading:
• Think about what you know about a topic already.
• Write a list of questions to answer from your reading.
• Use these questions to structure your notes as headings and
subheadings.
• Make a note of the full reference details at the time – DON’T
leave it to the end!!!

While reading:
• Use the purpose of the text to structure your notes.
• Use the headings and subheadings in the text to structure
your notes.
Try different note-making styles
5 things to remember …
1. Academic reading takes time

2. Think about your objective – what do you want to learn?

3. Engage with the text – think about what it is saying

4. Practise your reading – train your “reading muscles”

5. Reading helps your writing

(Godfrey, J. (2009) How to use your reading in your essays (London and New York: Palgrave Macmillan) p.3-4)
 Further advice
• Davies, M. (2011) Study Skills for
International Postgraduates. Basingstoke:
Palgrave Macmillan.

• Kirton, B. and Macmillan, K. (2007) Just

Write. Abingdon: Routledge.

• Cottrell, S. (2008) The Study Skills Handbook.

Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Learning Enhancement Team

Our tutors provide free and

confidential guidance on:

· study skills
· mathematics and statistics
· academic writing
· use of English

Resources Workshops Tutorials

Study guides and Group sessions, Expert tuition to help
webcasts on our centrally or in your you improve your
website School work

www.uea.ac.uk/dos/let @uea_let dos.help@uea.ac.uk

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Extra reading support on Blackboard

Go to the ‘Learn’ section of the Portal and look for the

module ‘DOS-LET: Learning Enhancement Team’
Drop-ins and tutorials
• Drop-ins: Mon-Thurs, 4-5pm in the Dean of
Students’ Office

• Tutorials: 50min individual appointments

www.uea.ac.uk/dos/let/tutorials

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Follow us @uea_let
An introduction to academic writing
Tuesday 13 October JSC 2.03, 1-2pm
Thursday 15 October Arts 2.07, 1-2pm (repeat)
This workshop will explore some
of the features of academic
writing, including structure and
style.
dos.help@uea.ac.uk
No booking is required.
Places will be allocated
on a first come, first
served basis.
www.uea.ac.uk/dos/workshops
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