remembering what you read -- Virtually Advising Q+A

The Q: What are the most effective ways to get the most information out of books that you read? I don't mean just textbooks for class. I also mean regular non-fiction books that you might pick up at the library. I enjoy reading a lot, but I have a really hard time remembering what I read.

The A: Excellent question! (And one with no easy answer, I'm afraid.)

In general, to enhance your comprehension, as you read each chapter (or section) you might want to ask yourself what the writer's point is. What is he or she trying to demonstrate, show or prove? Once you have the Big Idea, the details won't seem like so many random marbles rolling around the room; instead you'll see them as backup details meant to support the Big Idea.

To put it another way, it's almost like you have to teach yourself to ask the kinds of reading comprehension questions the SAT folks ask about the "Main Idea." In textbooks, that Main Idea, and even the sub ideas, are usually written in bold face to make it easier for you to see the intellectual organization of the whole piece. In recreational books, sometimes there are subheads, but often the title of the chapter is the biggest clue you'll be given.

And, of course, a lot depends on how motivated you are to read the book in front of you. When you're reading about what you shouldn't miss on a long-awaited trip to San Francisco, you'll be very motivated to find what you're looking for, and your comprehension is likely to be very high. The same motivation=comprehension relationship might happen if you're reading instructions on how to set up an important piece of computer software. Usually the more motivated we are -- practically or intellectually -- the better we remember.

More difficult, as I'm sure you've found, is recalling the details of a book you didn't really want to read in the first place. If I had the answer to that problem, I'd make a million dollars, but unfortunately for both of us, I don't. You could try taking notes as you read, using a study guide like SparkNotes (if the book is relatively well known), reading key sections out loud, taking vitamins, or joining a study group to help you stay on top of your readings and discuss the information you've learned.

I find that reading comprehension is easier to teach face-to-face, though, so once you begin college you might go to its study center or visit with some of your professors to get their advice as well. In the meantime, keep trying different tactics -- be creative -- until you've found one that works for you.

Hope this helps at least a little. Best of luck,

—Elizabeth Stone, Media Advisor