Author : Jennifer Stromsteen
What have you been reading lately?
When was the last time you read a book?
Do you read daily?
In a gathering, you can tell who the wide readers are Wide readers think and speak well They win the admiration, respect, and good opinion of others
Reading expands the mind In fact, many people consider it as one of the more satisfying pleasures of humans, for it involves physical as well as mental activities
Reading is primarily a mental activity After all, you read with your mind and use your imagination to paint the setting of the detective thriller you are reading You use you mind to imagine the pain that the main character experiences as the story unfolds You bring into play the different arguments and ideas brought up by the author in that self-help book you are holding
To read effectively, reading helps you develop a wide vocabulary through extensive reading A skillful reader has a wide recognition vocabulary He may not know exactly what every word means, but he will have a good general idea of the meaning of the sentence
Reading makes you alert and curious about new words Other readers develop the dictionary habit Every time they come across a strange word, they try to figure out what it can possibly mean by the context If they cannot do this, they refer to the dictionary
Likewise, reading develops intellectual curiosity by exposing you to a variety of materials You learn to read by reading books of increasing difficulty and variety As in other forms of activity, you learn by actually doing
Reading trains you to have an active and open mind Merely grasping the writer’s idea is not enough You must make a positive response to what you read Be an active, not a passive, reader Develop the habit of drawing your own conclusions, the habit of active thinking, of agreeing or disagreeing with the author Keep your mind open; understand and weigh the ideas that you read A practical part of active reading is the drawing of conclusions
Allow me to share four basic rules for effective reading and better comprehension:
1) Try to read more and more Remember the saying that practice makes perfect Practicing in the correct way makes perfect
2) Develop the habit of reading for main ideas Look for the subject and predicate Do not waste time on details or little words
3) Learn to read with focus and concentration Think of what you are reading Do not let your attention wander somewhere else Good readers read with understanding
4) Learn to budget your time Experiment with your reading time Try purposely to read faster Give yourself a time limit on specific material that you read
Reading is a stimulating mental activity It expands your reality and capability You have so much to gain in discovering the joys of reading Go ahead; grab a book right now!
J Stromsteen has many years expertise in the finance, real estate, and insurance industry. She contributes to various websites such as First Time Home Buyer where you can find today’s mortgage rates as well as a wealth of information on getting a First Time Home Buyers Loan .