Reading Comprehension Strategies

A guideline for the student's steps towards RCSTR

How you can proceed:

1. Previewing and predicting:

• I read the headline and/or look at the illustration.
• I want to know something about ......
• I stop and think:
• What will the text be about?
• What do I already know about the topic?
• What do I expect to read?

2. Skimming: I read the text quickly without any stop and find the main ideas.

• I check my expectations and the information I read.
• Are there any answers to my questions?
• What additional information have I found?
• I take notes of the main ideas?
• I test myself: Did I get the main ideas? (Comprehension questions)

3. Scanning: I let my eyes run over the text again in order to find and locate specific information

• I read the text for details.
• There is a paragraph I haven`t got properly.
• I tackle new words: What is the meaning of this word here?
• Is the word important for the understanding of the text?
• Oh, forget it. It is not important.
• But this one is important.
• I guess the meaning of the new word.
• What does the text around it say?
• Does the whole sentence tell me anything about the meaning of this word?
• How does this word function in the sentence?
• Does word-formation tell me anything about the meaning of this word?
• I check: Does the meaning and the context fit together?

4. Comprehending: I must read between the lines
 

I find out I write down I make up I check

What is substantially (sinngemäß), but not literally (wörtlich) said in the text? Headlines for all paragraphs. A summary in a few sentences Have you got all main ideas?

That's fantastic. Now I know everything about it. I must tell Fred. But can I? A sheet of paper with some notes may help.
Fred, I must tell you something. You haven't got time? I'll sum it up. I am an expert now.
 

Reading Comprehension strategies!

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Test yourself. Have you got the main ideas?

Reading Comprehension St.........

I read the ...................

I want to .......... something about ......

I stop and think::

What will the text be ..............?

What do I already know about the ...........?

What do I ............. to read?

I'll read the text.

I check my ...................... and the ................... I read.

I'll read the text again.

have I got all the .................?

There is a paragraph I haven't got properly.

I must read .......................................

What is the ................... of that word here?

Oh, forget it. It is not ........................

But this one is .........................

What does the text around it say?

That's fantastic. I ........... everything about it. I must tell Fred.

But can I? A sheet of paper with some ........... may help.

Fred, I must tell you what. You haven't got time?

I'll ...... it up.

I am an .......... now on ........................................................!