![]() Skimming or not giving the reading undivided attention reading for "gist" rather than substance ![]() The difference between a student who is successful in a literature class and a student who is not successful is often that the successful student participates in active reading. Or they might read them with full attention, but simply read without questioning or engaging with the material. Many students, when first reading academic material, read it like they would a timeline of Facebook or Instagram posts: not fully attentive, skimming over the material in search of something interesting. Just like watching a favorite movie or show, reading a good book can be fun and relaxing! And, while in pursuit of success, a previously literature-averse student might find themselves liking literature more than they thought they would. So, long story short: even the most practically-minded, time-crunched students would do well to perform the readings. Their essays usually fail because they do not fulfill the in-depth analysis required by the assignments. They will also have to go back and re-read the text to find quotations that fit their prompt. Students skipping reading often end up performing more work when it comes to writing an essay because they will spend so much time looking up text summaries on the internet (which may or may not be accurate or pertain to the intricacies of the assignment). This helps their brains absorb the information better and retain information for writing and tests. They usually break the readings into small, manageable chunks of twenty to thirty minutes at a time. Students who complete the readings and annotate as they go will find it much easier to flip back through their notes to find relevant quotations and information. Finally, class will be more fun for students if they understand what their peers are talking about in class discussion, and what their professor is talking about during lectures. If the class features examinations, these almost always test students on whether they completed and understand the readings. This is because a strong essay depends on a deep understanding of the literature. In the long run, while it might seem like skipping the readings saves time, completing the readings is actually the best way for students to optimize their time. Therefore, I recommend prioritizing the writing process so students can make the most efficient use of their time. But I also completely understand that students have limited time. I want my passion for literature to be contagious, to light students' hearts and minds on fire with a hunger for the beauty of syntax and diction and literary devices. Of course, I want my students to fall in love with the written word. More importantly, it means students miss out on many of the exciting benefits of diving deep into analysis, discussion, and engaging with the text. But for the vast majority of students, this popular high school tactic will not work at the college level. Truth be told, students who pursue this method, depending on their BSing skills, might be able to pass a literature class. This makes it tempting for students to want to skip the readings and just read SparkNotes. Also, because of today's gig economy, many students are juggling multiple jobs in addition to multiple college classes. They sometimes see their literature class as a means to an end: at best, a stepping stone towards their future career at worst, a time-suck of hoops to jump through. After all, most students taking the required writing and literature courses do not wish to become English majors. ![]() And it showed."Īs a college professor who teaches reading-heavy classes, this is not a shock to me. "Actually doing the assigned readings," she laughed, "most of my peers didn't. "What is your secret to success?" I asked. Whereas her brother had barely achieved Cs in college, she somehow maintained a 4.0, even though she was simultaneously working and caring for her two young daughters. One time, I was talking with my sister-in-law about her experience in nursing school. ![]()
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