Empoword

Appendix B: Engaged Reading Strategies 474 R ead: Next, you should read the text closely and thoroughly, using other engaged reading strategies you’ve learned. • Annotate the text: underline/highlight important passages and make notes to yourself in the margins. • Record vocabulary words you don’t recognize. • Pause every few paragraphs to check in with yourself and make sure you’re confident about what you just read. • Take notes on a separate page as you see fit. R ecite: As you’re reading, take small breaks to talk to yourself aloud about the ideas and information you’re processing. I know this seems childish, but self-talk is actually really important and really effective. (It’s only as adolescents that we develop this aversion to talking to ourselves because it’s frowned upon socially.) If you feel uncomfortable talking to yourself, try to find a willing second party—a friend, roommate, classmate, significant other, family member, etc.—who will listen. If you have a classmate with the same reading assignment, practice this strategy collaboratively! After Reading: R eview: When you’re finished reading, spend a few minutes “wading” back through the text: not diving back in and re-reading, but getting ankle-deep to refresh yourself. Reflect on the ideas the text considered, information that surprised you, the questions that remain unanswered or new questions you have, and the text’s potential use-value. Th e Cornell note-taking system recommends that you write a brief summary, but you can also free-write or talk through the main points that you remember. If you’re working with a classmate, try verbally summarizing. Double-Column Notes Notes & Quotes Questions & Reactions