Introduction

The reading demands of university study are not easy. Unfortunately, however, it is all too common for students to pay little attention to their own approaches to reading, that is, how they read, and how they can improve the effectiveness and speed of their reading. This helpsheet provides extensive reading advice. Furthermore, the helpsheet provides reading tips that are specific for particular text types and for the purposes you may have. Before you read this advice, you may find it worth reflecting on the nature of the reading that you conduct at university. This may help you consider which of the following tips might be particularly useful. The following section may help you do this.

What you read at university
You may be expected to read a wide range of texts that include the course reading
pack, lecture slides, books, journal articles, internet articles, newspapers, research reports, literature reviews, case studies and strategic plans.

Why you read at university
You may read to: prepare for lectures and tutorials, review information addressed in lectures and tutorials, conduct research for assignments, or revise for exams.

What reading abilities you need
Beyond being able to simply understand texts, you will need to critique them, evaluate them, compare and contrast them, and apply the information you find useful from them.