Speed Reading For Starters

Keywords: speed reading help books

Self-Help Tips For Starters Who Are Looking For Speed Reading Books

For students, reading five books from cover to cover is a lot already. But what if this is the requirement? For hobbyist, leisure reading may mean browsing over interesting information and topics and he or she enjoys learning while reading without the pressure. Is there a way to transform the stress of reading bulk information into enjoyment? There is one technique. This is called speed reading.

However, speed reading has become controversial as a reading technique. Debates between proponents and detractors of speed reading continue to occur. Generally, proponents claim that the technique uses various methods to assimilate several words at a glance and there is nothing wrong with that. Detractors argue that this is a marketing hoax and the technique is merely skimming.

Study on the information below as the article consider anything related to the nature of reading and speed reading.

1. Reading Myths versus Speed Reading (Facts)
These are some reading myths you ought to know:

a. Reading is linear.

Reading is not linear like thinking and writing. In fact, most writers the first part of their narratives last.

b. True reading is done verbatim.

Speed reading techniques can prove that some words are just fillers in a sentence or in a paragraph.

c. Reading is a rigorous task.

Like formula 1 and motocross, speed reading can be both fun and exciting.

d. All chapters are of equal importance.

Chapters in a book can have filler illustrations and other items as ordered by most publishers.

e. Reading faster will reduce retention of information.

The aim of speed reading is to increase one’s retention and comprehension.

So, the question is, “Are you ready?”

2. Getting Ready To Speed Read

Here is a 4-point guide before you start reading.

a. Eliminate all distractions.

Forget your problems and worries for a while. You can turn on some soft music to help you in your relaxation before you read. Be as objective as possible because worries will only cloud your mind and affect your comprehension and retention.

b. Know your purpose.

You should keep in mind your purpose of reading. You should consider the aspect on which you will be tested for. These are some of the information you might need to consider:

· Dates
· Comprehension
· Characters
· Settings

c. Do a pre-reading for 10 minutes.

Browse through the entire book and glance through all tables, summaries, pull-out quotes, section titles, and especially diagrams. By doing this, you can find the key chapter/s.

d. Read the key chapter/s.

More or less, the key chapters have the central idea of the book so you can dwell on these parts of the books more than any other sections.

Now consider the following reading techniques before going on.

3. Rapid Reading Techniques

a. Know your speed reading comfort level.

Speed reading is not merely about mastering skills. More importantly, this technique relies heavily on mind set and control. If you are serious about being a speed reader, you need to expect more from yourself. Moreover, you need a lot of practice so you will be exerting a lot of yourself during your first tries before being able to read with ease.

b. The book is a mine full of ore.

A book is a conglomerate of truths, ideas, information, concepts, terms, and notions. Therefore, you have to shift your mindset of looking for the gold within the ore.

c. Stop Sub-vocalizing

Start convincing yourself that the eye is the gate to your mind. Break the habit of using your mouth and ear to read and “learn”.

d. Use your finger.

Use your finger to help you focus. This also prevents you from back-skipping. Practice reading using your finger; just try it out as a starter. As you notice some improvement, buy a book on speed reading to help you decide which pattern of reading works best for you.

e. Break the back-skip habit.

Treat reading as if you are watching a movie in a cinema. Do not focus on one word or a sentence for long and just continue reading hoping that the next paragraphs will help you clarify your thoughts.

f. Use your periphery.

Train your eyes to read on both sides of the book even if you are on the center of a line.

To do this, most speed readers actually started drawing lines down pages of a book until they have achieved mastery.

g. Learn to read key words.

Train your minds to look for the gold. If you are able to do this, you can add more speed to your reading skills.

h. Eliminate eye rests.

As you read down lines on pages of a book, try to reduce your eye rests between 3 and 4 per line. Keep your eyes moving smoothly line after line until you are able to minimize the number of your eye rests.

i. Have short breaks.

Reading without a break is not really efficient. Sit down to read your target number of pages for a given time and reward yourself with a cookie, perhaps, during your break before you continue reading.

j. Set a time goal.

Pretend you are rehearsing for a race. Keep track of your speed and increase your target number of words per minute when you are able to beat your aim until you reach your maximum speed.

Now that your confidence level is raised up, get ready for more techniques on retention.

4. Retention Techniques

If you do not own the book, write on post-it or notepads.

a. Make marginal notes.

Actually, marking pages can increase the probability that you can read the content of a page in your mind.

b. Dog-ear relevant pages.

You may apply the system, “The bigger the dog-ear, the more important the page” when sorting out the gold in a book.

c. Rewrite key words on the first page of the book.

Whenever you have found gold in a book, use it or else you will lose it. Better yet, accommodate the information into something that you already know so that you can attain better recall later.

d. Re-read dog-eared pages.

This will definitely help you retain much information.

e. Write an abstract in either of the flyleaves.

Write down everything you have just learned using your own word in front or at the back pages of the book. This will enhance your comprehension and retention of important notions in a book. You can also use a mind map before writing an abstract.

f. Draw a mind map or concept map of the content.

A mind map or a concept map may take the form of a diagram that will link everything that the book tries to share to you. By doing this, it is like enhancing your photographic memory to its fullest.

Bear in mind that to become a life-long rapid reader, you need to practice a lot and you really need to work hard. This article can help you get started. However, you still need to purchase or borrow books on speed reading.

Try one or more of the following books. These are available at amazon.com:

1. Be a Rapid Reader by Kathryn Redway
2. Double Your Reading Speed by the Reading Laboratory Fawcett Books
3. Speed Reading by Tony Buzan Penguin Books
4. 21st Century Guide to Increasing Your Reading Speed by The Princeton Language Institute Dell Books

Now if you are ready, let the race begin!