Reading Comprehension Strategies

Master the art of understanding and analyzing English texts effectively.

Pre-Reading Strategies

Preview the Text

Before diving in, take a few minutes to:

• Scan headings and subheadings - Get an overview of the structure
• Read the introduction and conclusion - Understand the main argument
• Look at images and captions - Visual elements provide context
• Note key vocabulary - Identify unfamiliar words to look up

Set a Purpose

Ask yourself: Why am I reading this?

• To learn new information?
• To form an opinion?
• For entertainment?
• To complete an assignment?

Active Reading Techniques

Annotation

Mark up the text as you read:

• Underline key points and main ideas
• Circle unfamiliar vocabulary
• Write notes in the margins
• Use symbols (! for important, ? for questions)

Ask Questions

Engage with the text by asking:

• What is the main idea?
• What evidence supports this claim?
• Do I agree with the author?
• How does this connect to what I already know?

Comprehension Strategies

Identify Main Ideas

Every paragraph has a main idea, usually stated in the topic sentence.

Example:

"Climate change poses significant challenges to global agriculture. Rising temperatures affect crop yields, while changing precipitation patterns disrupt traditional farming practices."

Main idea: Climate change negatively impacts agriculture.

Recognize Text Structure

Common organizational patterns:

1. Chronological - Events in time order
2. Cause and Effect - Why something happens and its results
3. Compare and Contrast - Similarities and differences
4. Problem and Solution - Issue and proposed fixes

Make Inferences

Read between the lines to understand implied meanings.

Text: "Sarah grabbed her umbrella and rushed out the door."

Inference: It's probably raining or about to rain.

Post-Reading Strategies

Summarize

After reading, write a brief summary in your own words:

• What were the main points?
• What was the author's purpose?
• What did you learn?

Reflect and Connect

• How does this relate to your life?
• What questions do you still have?
• What would you like to learn more about?

Practice Exercise

Read this short passage and apply the strategies:

"The invention of the printing press in the 15th century revolutionized communication. Before this innovation, books were copied by hand, making them expensive and rare. Johannes Gutenberg's press allowed for mass production of texts, democratizing knowledge and accelerating the spread of ideas across Europe."

Try this:

1. Identify the main idea
2. What text structure is used?
3. What inference can you make about society before the printing press?

Tips for Difficult Texts

• Read in chunks - Break long texts into manageable sections
• Re-read complex passages - It's okay to go back
• Use context clues - Figure out word meanings from surrounding text
• Take breaks - Your brain needs time to process information

Remember: Good readers aren't born, they're made through practice!