CONTENT AREA READING

CONTENT AREA READING means reading from subjects like biology, health, history, even driver's ed. For this activity, you will need a textbook from one of the content areas you study.
DO NOT begin reading right away! DO spend some time glancing over what you are about to read.

1. SURVEY the chapter--look at all of its divisions and sub-headings.

Title of the chapter

Major sub-sections beneath this title

Topics or headings beneath the sub-sections

Any further sub-sections this chapter shows

2. Transform these headings into QUESTIONS.

For example, a chapter title in your history book might be

"America Enters World War II"

You might ask yourself

When and why did America enter World War II?

Do this for ALL the chapter headings, major and minor. This list of questions will become your own review checklist.

Now, rather than reading just to reach the end of the assignment, you have something to look for as you read.

3. READ your assigment, with your list of questions nearby.

4. Ask yourself your survey questions. Can you RECITE answers to them in your own words?

5. If any of your questions give you trouble, you probably didn't gather much MEANING from that section. REVIEW that section(s).

It only takes a few extra minutes to do this with your reading assignments. This exercise actually SAVES reading time, since you are also reviewing at the same time.

You'll feel great when you can answer the teacher's questions in class! You'll even look forward to reading quizzes!