Learning by doing 9 pps

There’s Reading—and There’s Reading

“I just don’t get this marine biology book. I can’t understand the

first chapter. I read it, and I don’t get anything out of it,” Sally com￾plains to Harry.

“How are you reading it?” Harry asks.

“What do you mean—how?” she answers.

“Well, how involved are you with what you’re reading?”

“What do you mean—involved? Reading is like TV, you look at

it and you get meaning,” Sally says.

“It sounds like you need to read more actively,” Harry tells her.

“Reading is very different from watching TV.”

Sally has a problem. She expects reading to come to her, like

her favorite sitcom on TV. She’s not treating reading as work, but

rather as a relaxing pastime. Having a difficult reading assignment

make sense means asking questions, making connections, and cre￾ating order—getting involved!

HOW TO STUDY

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over the page, you aren’t really reading—and you’re not getting anything

out of it. To get the most out of what you read, you have to get actively

involved in the material. Your mind should be working before, while, and

after you read.

BEFORE YOU READ

WHAT’S IN A TITLE?

You have a title, even if you didn’t win a world heavyweight boxing match.

Mr., Ms., Mrs., and Miss are titles. In a sense, so are Mom, Dad, Sis, and

Brother. And there are many more. Get out your notebook and list your

own titles. Start with your name, your family relationships, and what peo￾ple call you in a formal setting (like Mr. or Ms.). List your job titles, and

any positions you hold in volunteer or professional organizations.

Like people, chapters, lessons, and books have titles that tell you

what they’re about. Just as you know Ms. Smith isn’t a man, you know the

article “Cooking Peas” isn’t about carrots. Titles are there to eliminate

confusion and give a general impression before the finer details are

known. Titles can tell you a lot—don’t overlook them!