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How to read a
difficult book.

Processing lots of information presents particular challenges for a dyslexic student with an inefficient working memory. You may also have difficulties with visual tracking. This will slow down your reading speed. You may find that you spend so much energy just reading the book, that comprehension of the material is incomplete.

New words and technical expressions may be hard to work out, and the density of the text, with few pictures, may make you feel over-tired.

These guidelines will help.

Read through superficially.

What is the right approach? The answer lies in one important rule of reading. You should read a book through superficially before you try to master it.

Look first for the things you can understand and refuse to get bogged down in the difficult passages.

Read right on past paragraphs, footnotes, arguments and references that escape you. there will be enough material which you can immediately grasp ... even if it is only 50% or less - that will enable you to understand the book in part.

Try skimming.

A variation on the method of giving a book a first superficial reading is the technique of skimming. You will never get from skimming what reading and study can give you, but it is a very practical way of dealing with the mass of books available to you.

By skimming you can get, often with surprising accuracy, a general sense of the contents of a book.

For skimming or reading, the following steps are a good way to begin giving a book the once-over "

• Look at the title page and introduction and note especially the sub-titles or other indications of the scope and aim of the book or the author's special angle.
  
  
• Study the table of contents to get a general sense of the book's structure; use it as you would a road map before taking a trip.
  
  
• Check the index for the range of subjects covered or the kinds of authors quoted. When you see terms listed that seem crucial, look up the passage. You may find the key to the author's approach.

Now you are ready to read the book or skim through it, as you choose.

If you vote to skim it, look at the chapters which contain pivotal passages or summary statements in their opening or closing pages. Then dip into a page here and there, reading a paragraph or two, sometimes several pages in a sequence.

Thumb through the book in this way, always looking for the basic ideas of the matter.

Beware, though: If you use this approach and start to skim through a book, you may end up discovering that you aren't skimming it at all. You are reading it, understanding it and enjoying it. When you put the book down, it will be with the realization that the subject wasn't such a tough one after all.

Feedback.

Reading out loud helps - I'm a college student and text books such as history can be quite difficult. So when reading, I only read the important stuff out loud while highlighting it, and then go back and read all the highlighted stuff out loud again. It keeps the unimportant stuff from cluttering your brain. (Linda, Texas).

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• Proof reading.

• Skimming and Scanning Scientific Material.

• A reading and Study System.

• Suggestions for Improving Reading Speed.

• How to Study. - helpful information on study skills, study strategies and study aids.