Active Reading Essay

Learning to comprehend what we are reading and retaining it is crucial to being an active reader. Dr. Annie Olson described active reading as a process that can be condensed into three steps: preparing, interacting, and reflecting. Preparing to read, even if it might take a few extra moments, ultimately saves time later and revolutionizes one's reading (Olson 3). In addition to preparing to read, interacting with the text while reading enhances one's memory of what they read and encourages critical thinking. Finally, reflecting on your reading allows the brain to systematize and store the new information you received to be accessible in the future. As psychologists say: "Encoding, storage, and retrieval are the three primary stages of the human

As I read, I make an outline for my notes and go through each section, writing down main ideas and details that I think are important. Once I finish reading and taking notes on a section, I go back to highlight a few keywords and dates so I can reference and find it easily later. For nonacademic reading, I preview the synopsis and sometimes read a few random pages throughout the book to see if it sounds intriguing. Despite people saying to not judge a book by its cover, I often do, along with its title. Unlike with academic reading, I read straight through as long as I can. Nonacademic books are easier to read and retain because I actually want to read it.

Based on the descriptions of absent, passive, and active reading in the document "Active Reading," I would describe myself as more of an active reader. Referring to the three-step pre-reading formula on page two, I already do most of the first two steps. I skim through the chapter or assigned pages and look at the chapter title, headings, and subheadings. Additionally, I sometimes look through the chapter again and read the introduction before starting. Though I may not necessarily interact with the text, I do take notes of key points. However, I have never done the last step: