Reading
is the process of going through written information in order to understand.
This topic presents some basics about effective reading.
Types of reading
There
are many types of reading as discussed below:
Skimming
This
is a kind of reading where the reader is interested in just knowing what the
text is being read is about. The reader want to get a general idea about the
passage or text. In skimming, reader read, few lines, paragraphs, heading and
subheading as well as the table of content.
We
use skimming when we get new books, newspapers, journals, magazines, essays
etc.
Advantage of skimming
It
help to assess whether the material is worth reading or otherwise. Some books
are good and others are not.
It
is very important in saving time of readers.
Scanning
Scanning
is a reading technique to be used when you want to find specific information
quickly. In scanning you know exactly what you are looking for. That means, the
book you have may contain a lot of things but you are only interested in just
one thing or a few of them. So you use the table of contents or index to locate
where in that book a particular piece of information is found. Once you get the
information, you read it. Then you leave the book.
Study reading
This
is the kind of reading in which the reader wants to fully understand and
remember what is read. It is the method that is used in reading textbooks, in
this type of reading, the reader concentrate in everything.
Study
reading is sometimes referred to as intensive reading, whereby the main purpose
for reading in academic work is to understand fully the reading materials
relevant to your studies.
Critical reading
Critical
reading it is a type of reading whereby a reader try to identify the
information presented and relate it to his/her experience. In this type of
reading, a reader read between the lines.
Critical
reading is mainly used when we are reading literary works. It is important to
note that critical reading is not restricted to literature. Other texts can be
read critically too. What matters in critical reading is to go beyond what
words say at the surface.
Extensive reading
Extensive
reading it refer to the habit of reading. This is when a reader read many books
for increasing knowledge or as a hobby.
Extensive
reading enrich people with knowledge. You get a lot of information because
different books talk about many different things.
Strategies for critical and intensive
reading
For
successful reading, there are a number of activities that need to be carried
out. The following are strategies for critical and intensive reading:
1.
Prepare
yourself mentally
Tell
your mind that what you are about to read is simple and understandable. You
will enjoy reading if you read with interest and without fear.
2.
Organize
your materials
Arrange
your books and other materials well before you start reading. If you don't
organize your studying materials, you will waste a lot of time. For example,
you can spend more time looking for pens and other materials instead of
studying.
3.
Set
objectives
Indicate
what you want to achieve at the end of reading. Ask yourself some questions
that you should be able to answer at the end of reading. Ask questions like,
“At the end of this reading, I want to be able to define the words such as…”
4.
Outline
the main points as you read
This
will make you understand what you read, because when you write something down,
you give yourself time to reflect.
5.
Be
active as you read
You
are advised to concentrate when you read. When you read, pretend like
explaining what you read to someone else. This will help you to concentrate,
remember and understand.
6.
Take
some breaks
Reading
is to be taken as a leisure. Schedule time for break. During break, stretch
yourself.
Reading and Locating References in the
Library
In
Libraries there are a numbers of books, journals and other references such as encyclopedias.
Catalogue in the library
A catalogue
is a register of materials in the library. The material may include books,
films, encyclopedias, yearbooks and other resources found in the library.
Catalogue
is important because in the library there are classification of materials
basing on a number of factors. Without a guide like a catalogue, you may find
yourself using a lot of time to locate these resources. Sometimes you may
completely fail to find the material you are looking for.
Catalogues
are either in form of cards or online information.
Library classification systems
There
are two main classification systems in the library:
1.
Library
of congress
The
library of congress classification system uses letters of the alphabet in
classifying books on the shelves.
Example,
A General books
B Philosophy, psychology and religion
C-D
History and Topography and Technology
2.
The
Dewey Decimal
The
Dewey decimal classification system uses numbers in classifying library
resources.
Example,
000-009 General books
100-199 Philosophy related disciplines
200-299 Religion
Using library resources
In
library there are resources which are purely for reference. Those materials
include:
1.
Dictionaries
Dictionaries
are of two types:
Abridged
dictionary which is the abbreviated kind of dictionary because it is so shortened
that it lack some linguistic information. Most of the desk dictionary, are of
this kind.
Unbridged
dictionary is a complete or full version of a dictionary. They are very big in
size.
When
using a dictionary, it is advisable you concentrate on the meaning that seems
to be closely related and relevant to what you are reading.
2.
Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias
is a book or set of books containing many articles arranged in alphabetical
order that deal either with the whole of human knowledge or with a particular
part of it.
It
differs from a dictionary in that it is not meant to provide meaning alone, it
rather treats topics in a detailed manner. Encyclopedia is found in volumes.
3.
Year
books
These
are references that are concerned by the major occurrences and development of
the preceding year. They are published as soon as the year closes.
Referencing
Referencing
or citation is the use of other people’s ideas with acknowledgment. Using other
people ideas without acknowledgment is called plagiarism.
Importance of citation
1. It
prove that we have researched.
2. It
add credibility to what we say.
3. To
direct readers where they can get more information about what we present to
them.
4. To
show how other people view the point we are talking about.
APA Citation Style
APA
is the short form for American Psychological Associations. This style is very
simple and easy to use.
Ways of making reference
1.
In-text
citation
This
is the reference we make inside our essays. You may either begin your citation
with the author being mentioned first or you refer to the material and then the
author follows latter.
Examples:
According
to Kitwana (2008), communication is the process of sharing information. This
definition looks at communication as a social action.
“Communication
is the process by which people share information with each other” (Kitwana,
2008:34). If a careful examination is done, it will be found that this
definition looks at communication as a social activity.
In
example two, 2008 represent the year I which the book which is being referred
was written. 34 shows the page on which the definition of the term
communication is found.
Whether
you make citation by direct quotation of paraphrase, it is important to add
your own interpretation of the materials you’re quoting.
To paraphrase is
to use your own words in talking about what the author of the material you are
referring to says.
Direct quotation is
quoting exactly the same words.
End of essay citation
This
is the type of reference which come after you have written your work. You tell
the reader of your work the works that you have read.
Reference involving a book written by
one author
If
you want to write a reference of the book whose author is one, you follow the
guideline as follows:
1.
Write
the surname (or last name) of the author
If
on the cover of the book there is Abel Mwanjoka, then Mwanjoka is the surname
(last name). For that reason, you will start your reference as Mwanjoka. This
is followed by a comma to give: Mwanjoka,
2.
Write
the initials of other names (starting with that of the first name)
In
the example above, our author’s first name is Abel, so, the initial will be A.
at this point you will have: Mwanjoka, A. remember that the initial is followed
by a full stop.
3.
Write
the year of publication in brackets
Books
have the year in which they are published. Let us assume that Mwanjoka’s book
was written in 2009. Then, the year of publication will be 2009. Up to this
point our reference has to look like: Mwanjoka, A. (2009). It is important to
note that brackets are followed by a full stop.
4.
Write
the title of the book
Let
us assume that the title of the book written by Mwanjoka is: English Language
for Secondary schools. So, this is what follows the brackets. At this point we
have: Mwanjoka, A. (2009). English
Language for Secondary School. The title of the book is italicized if
written using computer or underline if hand written.
5.
Write
the name of the city/town where the book was published
Books
have addresses inside them. These addresses show among other things the name of
the town where the book was published. Let us say Mwanjoka’s book was published
in Dar es Salaam. Then we shall have Dar es Salaam: as our city of publication.
Note that the city/place of publication is followed by colon’:’ up to this
point, our reference looks like: Mwanjoka,
A. (2009). English Language for Secondary Schools. Dar es Salaam:
6.
Lastly,
write the name of the publishing company
There
are many publishing companies in the world. Then our reference will look like:
Mwanjoka, A. (2009). English Language
for Secondary Schools. Dar es Salaam. Ujuzi Publishers. Up
to this point your reference will be complete.
Reference involving a book written by
two authors
Do
the following to refer a book written by two authors
- Write
the surname of the first author and the initial of that same author.
- Then
use the symbols & followed by the surname and initials of the second
author.
- Other
details are written the same as we did when talking about the book written by
one author.
Your reference will look
like:
Lyimo,
J. & Rutashobya, G. (2007). Geography
and Society. Dar es Salaam: Mkuki na Nyota.
Reference involving a book
written by more than two authors
Its
reference will look like this:
Mwakapeje,
A. Muro, D. & Mwanjanja M. (2006). Kiswahili Proverbs. Morogoro: Mzumbe
Books Project.
If
there are more than six writers, reference will look like this:
Mwakapeje,
A et all. (2006). Kiswahili Proverbs. Morogoro: Mzumbe Books Project.
Reference involving the book
that has been edited look like this:
Martin,
E. W. (1978). The Theory of Care. In
A. Ruskin et al. (Eds.), Hazards of primary care in aging populations (2nd Ed.). Philadelphia, PA: J.B.
Lippincott.
Author,
A. A. (1996). Money Deal. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Second Prince. Dar
es Salaam: Mwalimu Publishers.
