Topic outline

  • Tips for reading

    Before reading

    • Look at the text before reading it
    • view text properties, such as length and structure, find important points and parts of text
    • decide what you read and in what order (not always worth reading all the text and not always reading from beginning to end)
    • Decide what you read in more detail and what you see, 
    • Decide what you do not read at all

    • Decide to read only certain sections of the text or read some sections before reading other sections. For example, in a scientific article, you should first read the abstract and conclusions, and then only read the introduction, methods, and results.

    • Decide to stop reading if the content of the reading is not important to the purpose of the reading

    • Activate your previous knowledge. Think about what you already know about the subject of the text, the structure of the text, and the author's intentions.

    • Summarize what you learn from text glancing.

    • Based on this skimming and glancing, do your first assessment of what the text contains.


    While reading

    • Read the text flexibly according to your goals, either completely or selectively.

    • Read especially the sections that you think contain important information. Information is selected based on your prior knowledge, text structure, author style or glancing.

    • Skim the text to form an overview.

    • Read easy text automatically and quickly. Zoom in on your thinking and reading level when you notice a harder or more interesting point.

    • Read aloud if the text is difficult to understand or difficult to focus on. Try saing difficult parts of the text in your own words.

    • Repeat the text you just read to keep it in working memory. Repeat the thought that came to your mind as you read, or even write it down.

    • Find related words, concepts, or ideas in the text to build the main idea of ​​the text. Look for important information in the text. Combine different parts of the text.

    • Look for meaning in the text and, if necessary, argue against the text message.

    • Try predicting what the text will contain next.

    • Take notes.

    • Take a break to consider the text or your notes. Also, take a break from reading according to your own concentration, when you find your concentration waning.

    • Draw conclusions from the text. Interpret the text.

    • Read comprehensively and express emotions as you read.


    After reading

    • After the first reading, re-read either carefully from beginning to end, looking for specific information, or looking at it.

    • Review the text in your mind to improve your memory of it.

    • Write the main points of the text on the paper.

    • Create a consistent summary of the text.

    • Ask yourself and test your own learning of the content of the text.

    • Think of possible situations and examples where you could use the information.

    • Even after a long time since reading, return to the text and reflect on its contents.

    • Review and rethink your understanding of the text.

    • Modify your understanding of the text.


    Translated from the Finnish original 'Taitava lukeminen' 


◄ Previous section
Reading lists
Next section ►
Assignment