Nonfiction Strategies for Reading Results

Before Reading

“Preview the Selection”

·       Look at the title and headings to predict what the selection will be about.

·       Look at photos, illustrations, captions and graphics to predict what the selection will be about.

  “Activate Prior Knowledge”

·       Look at the title, headings, pictures and graphics to decide what I know about this topic.

·       Read the introduction and/or summary to decide what I know about this topic.

“Set a Purpose”

·       Use the title and headings to write questions that I can answer while I’m reading.

·       Skim the selection to decide what I want to know about his subject.

During Reading

   “Make Connections”

·       Relate information that I already know about the subject to what I’m reading.

·       Compare my experience with what I’m reading.

  “Interact with text”

·       Identify the main idea and supporting details.

·       Identify how the text is organized.

“Clarify understanding”

·       Use photos, charts and other graphics to help me understand what I’m reading.

·       Decide whether the information I’m reading is fact or opinion.

  After Reading

“Recall”

·       Summarize the selection in writing or out loud.

·       Use the heading to question myself about what I read.

   “Evaluate”

·       Search the selection to determine how the author used evidence to read conclusions.

·       Form a judgment about whether the selection was objective or biased.

   “Respond”

·       Draw logical conclusions about the topic.

·       Form my own opinion about what I’ve learned.