What Might Account for Poor Reading Comprehension? Some Reasons Might Be

";The ability to read awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive.";
-Autobiography of Malcolm X, 1964.

Reading

Knowing how to read is not sufficient for learning. Comprehension is critical. Comprehension means being able to understand the content and the meaning of what was read. With online learning, reading comprehension means not only understanding textbook information, but also having the ability to follow written directions for exams, homework assignments, and special tasks.

When you improve your reading comprehension skills, you positively impact many aspects of your academic performance. For example, understanding your reading assignments will help you better prepare for course-related questions and for participation in discussions. You will be able to take more accurate notes, and your exam results will improve. When you are proficient in this area, you are more confident as a student. Greater confidence leads to academic success.

What might account for poor reading comprehension? Some reasons might be:

Failure to understand a word
Failure to understand a sentence
Failure to understand how sentences relate to one another
Failure to understand how the information fits together in a meaningful way or how it is organized
Lack of interest or concentration

(Source: Center for Advancement and Learning.

Engage your Reading

There is merit to being actively engaged and interested in what you are reading. If you are reading something, but your mind is not into what you are reading, you will notice several pages later that you have not retained any of the information. Retention is important for comprehension. It is the first step to understanding.

According to author Sharon Ferret (Peak Performance, 2008), reading involves many important tasks. When combined, these tasks can lead to improved retention and comprehension. These tasks include the following:

Previewing
Taking notes
Outlining main points
Digging out ideas
Jotting down key words
Finding definitions
Asking and answering questions
Underlining important points
Looking for patterns and themes
Summarizing in your own words
Reviewing for recall

Reading Methods

Another way to improve reading comprehension is to have a reading method or system that works for you. As you learned earlier, people have different learning styles and ways of taking in information. Explore for yourself what reading system works best for you. Below are three systems you might consider, if you do not have one that you currently apply.

Muscle Reading

According to Dave Ellis (Becoming a Master Student, 2009), one way to experience reading success is to have a system that works. He adopted a technique, a reading strategy called Muscle Reading. This system will help a student spend less time reading, while effectively retaining more information.

Ellis cautions that, in the beginning, you will have to invest time to learn the technique. Once you get the hang of it, you will realize putting in the time is well worth it. Watch the presentation below on how Muscle Reading works by Dave Ellis.

Resource:

Muscle Reading

Five-Part Reading System

Sharon Ferret (Peak Performance, 2008) specifies the steps in the reading process by remembering them as five "Ps";:

Prepare – Think of the important reading tasks Ferret listed above and prepare mentally and physically to undertake these tasks.
Preview – Scan or do a quick preview of what you are about to read. This gives you an overview of the material you are about to cover. Pay attention to elements that are distinguished in big, bold letters, as well as keywords and illustrations. Gain a general understanding of the content.
Predict Questions – Forming and asking questions about the material will help you actively look for answers and requires more focus and concentration.
Process information – Do not just think of what you read; write notes, highlight and underline important words and concepts, and organize them into an outline for easier processing.
Paraphrase and review – A good indicator of understanding and comprehension is your ability to paraphrase and summarize key points. This demonstrates that you have assimilated and integrated the material into your learning.

The SQ3R Method

The SQ3R Method is the oldest of the reading systems. The acronym stands for the steps that follow:

S = Survey – Get a quick overview of what you are about to read. This is similar to the second step in the 5-part system.
Q = Question – Convert headings into questions to help you focus on the main concepts.
R = Read – Actively find answers to the questions you raised.
R = Recite – Pause after each section and recall, out loud if possible, what you have read to yourself.
R = Review – Before closing the book, review one more time what you have learned. Go back to your questions and answers, read the summary or answer questions at the end of each chapter.

Note: A variation of this system is SQ4R which adds a "Record"; step after "Read.";

Reading Comprehension Strategies

If you think you are challenged with your reading comprehension, the following strategies reiterate and reinforce the different steps mentioned in the reading systems above. Keep remembering to use these strategies. They will help you improve upon your reading comprehension, an all too important skill for success in learning.

Read frequently and read a variety of written materials. Do not limit yourself to textbooks.
If reading a textbook, scan or preview the entire document before reading thoroughly. Look over the table of contents to get an idea of topics the book covers and how the content is developed. For articles, observe how the material is organized. Scan the subtitles or subheadings to get an idea of what the article is all about.
Read a little at a time, but do it regularly. For example, you retain more information reading two long chapters in one sitting than you do cramming five chapters in just before an exam. It takes time for dense information to be digested.
Keep references such as a dictionary, thesaurus, or notes handy. Take note of unfamiliar words as you read. If you are reading online material, immediately look up the meaning of a word you do not comprehend.
Summarize the ideas you read in your own words. This will help you better understand what you are reading. If unclear about something, clarify with the instructor and/or classmates.
Take notes while you read. Paraphrase what you read rather than copying word for word.
Create an outline of what you read. This will help with recall of the main points. Read and track how the ideas were developed and organized.
To test your comprehension after reading a chapter in a book, answer review questions at the end of each chapter. This will help you recall what was read and will help ensure that you understood the material.
When reading materials on the Web, eliminate computer-related distractions such pop-ups and e-mail alerts. This way you will not be tempted to take a break and navigate away from the reading material.

Increase your reading speed

With so much reading to do, knowing a technique to help you read faster will mean saving time over the long run. Reading rate is a measure of how fast you can read. It is commonly expressed in units of words per minute, calculated by dividing the number of words read by the number of minutes it took to read the words.

Speed reading is great, as long as you retain the information. It is important for you to understand the information as well. Otherwise it does not matter that you read fast!

Strategies to increase your reading rate include:

Move your eyes faster over the text. Instead of taking in three words at one fixation, take in six words.
Follow the lines with your fingers, pen, pencil, or a 3x5 index card.
To reduce regression or forgetting, use a 3x5 index card to cover words and lines as you read.
To improve concentration, eliminate external distractions and retain an interest in the subject.

Resource:

Watch this informative video for improving comprehension and study strategies: Question Method of Studying: Windows Media | mp3 | Quick Time

(Source: Center for Student Development. McMaster University, Ontario, CAN)

Test-taking Strategies for Reading Comprehension

In this module's exam, you will be asked to practice your reading comprehension skills. Follow these tips, adopted from the SAT test-taking tips:

Critical Reading Section --- Reading Comprehension (Short and Long):

You should base your answers to the questions solely on what is stated or implied in the passages.
Read the italicized introductory text.
Skip questions you don't know. Return to them after answering other easier questions.
First and last sentences of each paragraph are critical.
Find the right spot in a passage by using any line reference numbers that appear in the questions.
Answer questions on familiar topics before unfamiliar topics.
Read the passages before reading the questions.
Don't waste time memorizing details.
Passage content comes from the Humanities, Social Science, Science, and Literal Fiction.
Some passages are presented in pairs. Read the brief introduction first to see how they relate.
Spend more time on answering the questions than on reading the text.

(Source: Test Tactics and Sectional Strategies for the SAT* I: A Study Guide for College Bound Students

Note-taking

It may be tempting to avoid taking notes for an online course. This is not a good idea. With online learning, you must rely more on yourself to retain the information. Writing helps you remember the information and definitely helps you get better grades.

Below are simple but effective suggestions for note-taking:

Your notes should be organized along the order of chapter objectives. Remember that assessments are generally measured to achieve stated objectives.
Notes should include:
Definitions of new vocabulary words
New concepts discussed in a chapter
New procedures that are explained
Questions you have about the material
Review your notes for 10-15 minutes within 24 hours of first studying the material. Without doing this, you will only retain 20 percent of the information.
Take good notes for each unit, chapter, or topic studied. This will better prepare you for exams, without cramming at the last minute.
Review, review, review!

Resources:

Watch this video for more information on effective note-taking. Windows Media | mp3 | Quick Time
(Source: Center for Student Development. McMaster University, Ontario, CAN)
This site is highly recommended for further reading on this topic.
Download a copy of the Cornell Note-taking template.

(Sources:

Ellis, D. (2009). Becoming a master student. Cengage Learning. Boston: MA.
Ferret, S. (2008). Peak performance: Success in college and beyond. McGraw Hill, Inc. New York: NY.)