Introduction with Student Profile

6Reading to Learn

IN THIS CHAPTER YOU WILL EXPLORE

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The four steps in active reading: previewing, marking, reading with concentration, and reviewing

How to apply strategies for reading textbooks across different subject areas

Ways to improve and monitor your reading

While my habits have worked well for me, students should get to know their own learning habits and find a reading method that works best for them.”

Kameron Fehrmann, 18

Communication Design major

Texas State University

Kameron Fehrmann was born in Texas and then spent most of her childhood in Lafayette, Louisiana, where she learned study habits that have helped throughout her education. Just before junior high school, her family moved back to Texas. She decided to go to Texas State University in San Marcos because it was one of the only public colleges that offered a degree in Communication Design. In addition, she thought that the campus was beautiful, and she liked the community. Last, it put her only 30 minutes from Austin, one of her favorite places in Texas.

As someone who loves to learn, Kameron came to college with some strategies in place. “There is definitely a lot more reading involved in college than in high school,” she says. “However, the good thing is that professors give out syllabi that detail when readings will be due, so you can plan accordingly.” Like many first-year students, she also had to learn to balance the amount of reading required. “I had to get used to measuring how long it took to read and then manage my time accordingly.”

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Kameron Fehrmann
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Many of the other strategies Kameron employs revolve around good time management and organization. “Learning how to juggle all other coursework, meals, a social life, and sleep can be difficult, but it is possible. I mostly organize my time in order of priorities, usually based on due dates and how much time it takes to do [the assignment],” she says. Kameron explains that once she starts reading, “I usually write down headings within the chapter as I go to keep me guided in the right direction and so that I know what the main point of upcoming sections will be. I then read through and write down any important dates, names, words, or anything that better explains the concept or explains it in a different way. This way I have multiple views on the subject that further enhance my understanding. It also doesn’t hurt to reread sections and go over notes.” She adds an important note: “While my habits have worked well for me, students should get to know their own learning habits and find a reading method that works best for them.”

Kameron also has some simple advice for other first-year students: “As much work as college is and as overwhelming as it can feel sometimes, don’t stress too much. College is one of the best times of life. Enjoy it!”


As Kameron mentioned, reading college textbooks is more challenging than reading high school texts or reading for pleasure. College texts are loaded with concepts, terms, and complex information that you are expected to learn on your own in a short period of time. To accomplish it all, you will find it helpful to learn and use the active reading strategies in this chapter. They are intended to help you get the most out of your college reading. This chapter will also explore the different strategies to use when reading textbooks across the academic disciplines. These strategies include building your overall vocabulary and increasing your familiarity with terms that are unique to your particular field of study.

Depending on how much reading you did before coming to college—reading for pleasure, for your classes, or for work—you might find that reading is your favorite or least favorite way to learn. When you completed the VARK learning styles inventory, you determined your preferences about reading and writing as a learning strategy. But even if reading isn’t your favorite thing to do, it is absolutely essential to doing well in college, no matter what your major is.