Reading Comprehension study Guide
Reading is one of the most important skills for any student in any program. Students are required to read a
variety of different texts and reading materials from novels to blue prints, labels to poetry (depending on
your program!) It isn’t just a matter of reading words. Students need to be able to make sense of what
they read, make inferences, communicate the information clearly to others, and more. You can improve
your reading skills by reading as much and as widely as possible; read newspapers, magazines, adverts,
stories, poetry, song lyrics…Challenge yourself by learning new vocabulary or by reading something then
repeating back (without looking) what you have just read.
Tips to get started:
Look over the whole piece of writing. Notice its title.
Notice its length.
Read the first line of each paragraph to get an idea of how the writer has organized the piece.
Read the first line of the last paragraph to get an idea of how it may finish.
Read with concentration.
Concentrate on the words AND the meaning of groups of words. If there are vocabulary words that are
unknown to you, read the sentence and try to understand what is meant by the sentence, so that you can
guess at the meaning of the word. When concentrating is challenging, try these strategies:
Read the questions before you read the piece. It may help to know what you are looking for!
Read out loud. Your own voice can sometimes focus your mind AND eliminate outside
distractions.
Discuss the meaning as if you were telling someone else what you think it means. Sometimes
having to express your thoughts can clarify them.
302. Practice specific reading skills:
Recalling details/facts/information
Understanding main ideas
Making inferences
Reading Skill: Recalling Details, Facts, and Information
Start by quickly scanning the text. Look at titles, sub-titles, pictures etc. This prepares your brain
to receive the information
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When doing multiple choice quizzes, read the questions first before reading the text – then you’ll
know what information you are looking for
Try to get interested in the details (readers recall what they are interested in)
Decide what is most important and what is probably not worth remembering (you can’t
remember everything)
Reread if you need to
Go back and reread after you have read the question
Reading Skill: Understanding Main Ideas
The main idea:
Is the most important idea in the passage?
Can be found at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of the passage.
May be stated clearly or it may be implied.
Is supported by all the sentences in the passage.
Reading Skill: Making Inferences
Sometimes when you are reading you must go beyond the printed word on the page, to what is hinted at
or likely to be true, given the set of facts. Inferences can only be made when there are facts to back them.
Exa1mple: The old man staggered along the sidewalk, his torn, grey coat flapping in the wind.
You might infer that the man is drunk, but really the facts don’t substantiate that inference. That would
be a guess. It could be that the man has been mugged, that he is sick, or that he has had a medical crisis
such as a heart attack. All of these could be the case, or some other explanation may be possible. Unless
the facts support the inference, it could be incorrect.
You can make accurate inferences when you:
Think about all the ideas that are presented.
Think about the suggested or implied meaning of the words used.
Ensure they are supported by facts.
The following words in a reading may suggest you need to make an inference: “implies that …” “infers
that …” “might be described as…” “Indicates that …” “seems to be …” “can assume that …”“suggests
…” “probably …” “can conclude that …”
Produced by dr. GARCIAS