Center for Academic Success

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How to Read Difficult Material

• Skim the book first:
• Look at the title page and any sub-titles.
• Look at the table of contents to get a sense of the structure.
• Look for things you understand.
• Start Reading.
• Read over difficult material a second time. If you still do not understand it, move on to something else or take a break and come back to it.
• Look for the important words.
• Stop at the end of each paragraph or section and paraphrase in your own words what you just read.
• Read out loud. Hearing what we read is like reading it a second time.
• Meet with your instructor and discuss your confusion. Point out the paragraphs you found hardest to understand.
• Find a tutor.
• Use another text. Concepts are sometimes easier to understand if expressed in a different way.
• Read with a dictionary in your lap.
• Pretend you understand, and then explain it to someone else or even yourself.
• Do not get stressed over difficult material.
• Read footnotes, arguments, and references.