Hate Reading your Textbooks? Try one of these Tips !

One of the requirements, for the majority of my classes and I'm sure yours, is to read the assigned textbooks. I make sure to do this religiously, as to not to fall behind.  ( I'm a nerd, I know). But sometimes the material is just so boring.

When I was assigned to read a variety of material for my Media Ethics class, I assumed I would be uninterested and bored, forcing myself to take it all in. However, I was surprised to learn it was the opposite, especially the book I choose for a report, " The Paperboy," by Pete Dexter. I can't put the thing down.

Luckily the book  and the material circles around subjects I enjoy, journalism and the those that are wrongly convicted of a crime. But for fellow classmates who do not enjoy the selection of books or material, what can they do to make reading them more interesting ?

In my opinion, you have to be open to a book regardless if it is a textbook or a novel. I agree that the material either grabs you or it doesn't, but you do have to give it a try. If that doesn't work, try one of these tips to help you out. They work for both textbooks or assigned novels.

TEN TIPS FOR READING TEXTBOOKS- from the University of Arizona studentaffairs.arizona.edu/thinktank

1. Get it right away.
Don’t put off buying textbooks until the day before your first test! Cramming at the last moment is difficult, particularly in science courses!

2. Plan a reading schedule and stick to it.
Spreading out your reading time over the course of the term will make your actual reading more productive. Plan to read one chapter a night, for example, and you'll find you have less work to do for tests and exams.

3. Survey the book.
Glance over the textbook's chapter headings, subtitles, and charts or graphs which sum up and clarify main points before you start a complete reading.

4. Mark it up.
Simply reading the text will not help you really absorb the information it provides. Underline or highlight important facts, figures and phrases, and write your own comments and questions in the margins.

5. Take notes.
Yes, you took notes from class lectures. Now take notes from the textbook itself. It means a bit more homework, but you'll find it pays off come exam time! Or when you have to write a paper !

6. Read and reread.
Does this sound repetitive to you? Well, it is, and that's the whole point! Repetition, one of the most useful--at least used-- ways to get the most out of your text. Read text thoroughly and actively (highlight and take notes) and then skim read the text several times to get an overall sense of the main ideas without having to read every single line again.

7. Ask it questions.
Think of questions you have for the text and read it to answer those questions. This kind of interactive approach will make your reading more effective.

8. Ask your teacher questions.
If your questions about certain concepts and theories aren't answered to your satisfaction by the textbook, ask your teacher, ask your teacher in class or during her office hours.

9. Review orally.
After you have read a section or chapter of your textbook close the book and try to describe out loud the main ideas you have learned. Talking about ideas helps you to understand and remember them.

10. Pay special attention to introductions and conclusions.
These sections of textbooks are really important, because they highlight important ideas and facts. Some textbooks present these sections in point form for extra clarity.