Diablo Valley College - Reading Skills

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Learning resources - Reading skills

Study skills	Reading skills	Writing skills
Tips for ESL students	Resources for tutors	Handouts A to Z

Improve your reading

Good reading skills are essential for success in college. There is so much reading to do! These resources will help you improve your reading and comprehension, as well as build your vocabulary. Click on the section of interest and see the files available.

How to read textbooks
How to read literature
How to improve your reading focus and memory
How to improve your vocabulary

How to read textbooks

How to preview your textbook. Follow these 12 steps to become better acquainted with your textbook.

How to read a textbook. Why read a book four or five times? Discover a more efficient way to understand a textbook.

How to read a textbook chapter. Here is a system that allows you study more quickly and efficiently.

Questions to ask when reading paragraphs. With eight questions, you will understand a paragraph.

Reading across the curriculum. This handout gives you three techniques essential to reading any college material.

Textbook note-taking. Taking notes with a textbook is a must! Here are 3 techniques for doing it.

Textbook reading inventory. This survey allows you to decide how well you are following the steps needed to be an efficient reader.

Use the SQ3R method for textbooks. This brief handout gives you a concise method for reading and studying textbooks.

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How to read literature

How to analyze poetry. Written in outline form, this handout lists many elements to consider when analyzing a poem.

How to love a book. You SHOULD your books to enjoy them!

How to read narrative (stories). When you read a story, use these suggestions to mark the text and ask some questions.

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How to improve your reading focus and memory

Checklist to improve concentration and memory. This checklist of 10 items provides practical suggestions that will improve your concentration and memory.

Techniques to improve your concentration. Here is are 15 suggestions that will definitely improve your concentration—if you practice them.

Rate your concentration potential. Learn more about your potential for mind wandering and how long you should read before taking a break.

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How to improve your vocabulary

Develop vocabulary while reading. Use of index cards, four kinds of vocabularies, and three ways to determine the meaning of a word as you read.

Find word meanings in sentences. This handout gives many tips to help you discover the meaning of a word without relying on the dictionary.

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