Reading

English Tutoring Lab Handouts

How to read Textbooks | How to read Literature |
Improve your Reading Focus and Memory  | Improve your Vocabulary

Reading can be fun--if you know how to do it. Learn the techniques to get the most out of  your textbook, novel, or poem.

How to preview your textbook. The author of this two-page handout suggests you follow these 12 steps to become better acquainted with your textbook.

How to read a textbook. In this two-page handout, the author shows you there is a more efficient way to understand a textbook than reading it through four or five times.

How to read a textbook chapter. In this brief handout, the author describes a textbook study system that will allow you to study faster and more efficiently.

Questions to ask when reading paragraphs.  This brief handout provides you with eight questions to help understand a paragraph.

Reading across the curriculum. In this handout, the author discusses three techniques essential to reading any college material.

Textbook note-taking. The author of this handout insists that textbook note-taking is a must and provides three techniques for doing it.   

Textbook reading inventory. This survey allows you to decide if you are following the steps needed to be an efficient reader.  

Use the SQ3R method for textbooks.  In this brief handout, the author provides a concise method for reading and studying textbooks.

How to analyze poetry. Written in outline form, this handout lists many of  the elements you should consider in analyzing a poem.

How to love a book.  The author of this handout argues you should mark your books in order to enjoy them.

How to read narrative (stories).  The author of this brief handout provides some suggestions for marking the text and some questions to ask when reading a story.

Checklist to improve concentration and memory. This checklist of 10 items provides practical suggestions that will improve your concentration and memory.

Techniques to improve your concentration. The author of this handout makes 15 suggestions which, if practiced enough, will definitely improve your concentration.

Rate your concentration potential.  This handout rates your potential for mind wandering and suggests how long you should read before taking a break.

Develop vocabulary while reading. The author describes the use of index cards, the four kinds of vocabularies and three ways to determine the meaning of a word while reading.

 Develop your vocabulary. In this handout, the author describes using index cards and gives other suggestions for increasing vocabulary.

Find word meanings in sentences. This handout contains many tips to help the reader discover the meaning of a word without relying on the dictionary.

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