essay about reading materials

Importance Of Reading Essay

Importance of Reading Essay

500+ words essay on reading.

Reading is a key to learning. It’s a skill that everyone should develop in their life. The ability to read enables us to discover new facts and opens the door to a new world of ideas, stories and opportunities. We can gather ample information and use it in the right direction to perform various tasks in our life. The habit of reading also increases our knowledge and makes us more intellectual and sensible. With the help of this essay on the Importance of Reading, we will help you know the benefits of reading and its various advantages in our life. Students must go through this essay in detail, as it will help them to create their own essay based on this topic.

Importance of Reading

Reading is one of the best hobbies that one can have. It’s fun to read different types of books. By reading the books, we get to know the people of different areas around the world, different cultures, traditions and much more. There is so much to explore by reading different books. They are the abundance of knowledge and are best friends of human beings. We get to know about every field and area by reading books related to it. There are various types of books available in the market, such as science and technology books, fictitious books, cultural books, historical events and wars related books etc. Also, there are many magazines and novels which people can read anytime and anywhere while travelling to utilise their time effectively.

Benefits of Reading for Students

Reading plays an important role in academics and has an impactful influence on learning. Researchers have highlighted the value of developing reading skills and the benefits of reading to children at an early age. Children who cannot read well at the end of primary school are less likely to succeed in secondary school and, in adulthood, are likely to earn less than their peers. Therefore, the focus is given to encouraging students to develop reading habits.

Reading is an indispensable skill. It is fundamentally interrelated to the process of education and to students achieving educational success. Reading helps students to learn how to use language to make sense of words. It improves their vocabulary, information-processing skills and comprehension. Discussions generated by reading in the classroom can be used to encourage students to construct meanings and connect ideas and experiences across texts. They can use their knowledge to clear their doubts and understand the topic in a better way. The development of good reading habits and skills improves students’ ability to write.

In today’s world of the modern age and digital era, people can easily access resources online for reading. The online books and availability of ebooks in the form of pdf have made reading much easier. So, everyone should build this habit of reading and devote at least 30 minutes daily. If someone is a beginner, then they can start reading the books based on the area of their interest. By doing so, they will gradually build up a habit of reading and start enjoying it.

Frequently Asked Questions on the Importance of Reading Essay

What is the importance of reading.

1. Improves general knowledge 2. Expands attention span/vocabulary 3. Helps in focusing better 4. Enhances language proficiency

What is the power of reading?

1. Develop inference 2. Improves comprehension skills 3. Cohesive learning 4. Broadens knowledge of various topics

How can reading change a student’s life?

1. Empathy towards others 2. Acquisition of qualities like kindness, courtesy

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Reading is Good Habit for Students and Children

500+ words essay on reading is good habit.

Reading is a very good habit that one needs to develop in life. Good books can inform you, enlighten you and lead you in the right direction. There is no better companion than a good book. Reading is important because it is good for your overall well-being. Once you start reading, you experience a whole new world. When you start loving the habit of reading you eventually get addicted to it. Reading develops language skills and vocabulary. Reading books is also a way to relax and reduce stress. It is important to read a good book at least for a few minutes each day to stretch the brain muscles for healthy functioning.

Benefits of Reading

Books really are your best friends as you can rely on them when you are bored, upset, depressed, lonely or annoyed. They will accompany you anytime you want them and enhance your mood. They share with you information and knowledge any time you need. Good books always guide you to the correct path in life. Following are the benefits of reading –

Self Improvement: Reading helps you develop positive thinking. Reading is important because it develops your mind and gives you excessive knowledge and lessons of life. It helps you understand the world around you better. It keeps your mind active and enhances your creative ability.

Communication Skills: Reading improves your vocabulary and develops your communication skills. It helps you learn how to use your language creatively. Not only does it improve your communication but it also makes you a better writer. Good communication is important in every aspect of life.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Increases Knowledge: Books enable you to have a glimpse into cultures, traditions, arts, history, geography, health, psychology and several other subjects and aspects of life. You get an amazing amount of knowledge and information from books.

Reduces Stress: Reading a good book takes you in a new world and helps you relieve your day to day stress. It has several positive effects on your mind, body, and soul. It stimulates your brain muscles and keeps your brain healthy and strong.

Great Pleasure: When I read a book, I read it for pleasure. I just indulge myself in reading and experience a whole new world. Once I start reading a book I get so captivated I never want to leave it until I finish. It always gives a lot of pleasure to read a good book and cherish it for a lifetime.

Boosts your Imagination and Creativity: Reading takes you to the world of imagination and enhances your creativity. Reading helps you explore life from different perspectives. While you read books you are building new and creative thoughts, images and opinions in your mind. It makes you think creatively, fantasize and use your imagination.

Develops your Analytical Skills: By active reading, you explore several aspects of life. It involves questioning what you read. It helps you develop your thoughts and express your opinions. New ideas and thoughts pop up in your mind by active reading. It stimulates and develops your brain and gives you a new perspective.

Reduces Boredom: Journeys for long hours or a long vacation from work can be pretty boring in spite of all the social sites. Books come in handy and release you from boredom.

Read Different Stages of Reading here.

The habit of reading is one of the best qualities that a person can possess. Books are known to be your best friend for a reason. So it is very important to develop a good reading habit. We must all read on a daily basis for at least 30 minutes to enjoy the sweet fruits of reading. It is a great pleasure to sit in a quiet place and enjoy reading. Reading a good book is the most enjoyable experience one can have.

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School Education /

📖Essay on Importance of Reading: Samples in 100, 150, and 250 Words

Updated on
Apr 26, 2024

Language learning requires four skills i.e. Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. It is an important part that eventually builds up the communication skills of a person. Reading will help in attaining knowledge of variable fields. It enhances the intellect of a person. Reading helps students to enhance their language fluency. Students must adopt the habit of reading good books. Reading books can also improve the writing skills. If you are a school student and searching for a good sample essay on the importance of reading then, you landed at the right place. Here in this blog, we have covered some sample essays on the importance of reading!

Table of Contents

1 Essay on the Importance of Reading in 100 Words
2 Essay on Importance of Reading 150 Words
3 Essay on Importance of Reading 250 Words
4 Short Essay on Importance of Reading

Essay on the Importance of Reading in 100 Words

The English language is considered the global language because it is the most widely spoken language worldwide. Reading is one of the important parts of acquiring complete knowledge of any language. Reading helps in maintaining a good vocabulary that is helpful for every field, whether in school, interviews , competitive exams , or jobs.

Students must inculcate the habit of reading from a young age. Making a habit of reading good books will eventually convert into an addiction over time and you will surely explore a whole new world of information.

Being exposed to different topics through reading can help you look at the wider perspective of life. You will eventually discover a creative side of yours while developing the habit of reading.

Essay on Importance of Reading 150 Words

Reading is considered an important aspect that contributes to the development of the overall personality of any person. If a person wants to do good at a professional level then he/she must practice reading.

There are various advantages of reading. It is not only a source of entertainment but also opens up the creative ability of any person. Reading helps in self-improvement, enhances communication skills, and reduces stress. It is one of the sources of pleasure and also enhances the analytical skills.

Here are some of the best books to study that may help you enhance your reading skills:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling .
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee .
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri .
Pride and Prejudice
The Great Gatsby

A person with good reading skills would be able to communicate with more confidence and shine brighter at the professional level. Reading is a mental exercise, as it can provide you with the best experience because while reading fiction, or non-fiction you use your imagination without any restrictions thereby exploring a whole new world on your own. So, Just Enjoy Reading!

Also Read: How to Prepare for UPSC in 6 Months?

Also Read: Communication Skills to Succeed at Work

Essay on Importance of Reading 250 Words

Reading is a language skill necessary to present yourself in front of others because without being a good reader, it’s difficult to be a good communicator. Reading books should be practised regularly. Books are considered a human’s best friend.

It is right to say that knowledge can’t be stolen. Reading enhances the knowledge of a person. There are numerous benefits of reading.

I love reading books and one of my all-time favorite authors is William Shakespeare. His work “As You Like It” is my favourite book. By reading that book I came across many new words. It enabled me to add many words to my vocabulary that I can use in my life.

Apart from this, there are many other benefits of reading books such as reading can help you write in a certain way that can impress the reader. It also enhances communication skills and serves as a source of entertainment .

Schools conduct various competitions which directly or indirectly involve reading. Some such competitions include debate, essay writing competitions, elocution, new reading in assembly, etc. All such activities require active reading because without reading a person might not be able to speak on a specific topic.

All such activities are conducted to polish the language skills of students from the very beginning so that they can do good at a professional level.

In conclusion, in a world of technological advancement, you are more likely to get easy access to online reading material available on the internet. So, you must not miss this opportunity and devote some time to reading different kinds of books.

Short Essay on Importance of Reading

Find a sample of a short essay on importance of reading below:

Kajal Thareja

Hi, I am Kajal, a pharmacy graduate, currently pursuing management and is an experienced content writer. I have 2-years of writing experience in Ed-tech (digital marketing) company. I am passionate towards writing blogs and am on the path of discovering true potential professionally in the field of content marketing. I am engaged in writing creative content for students which is simple yet creative and engaging and leaves an impact on the reader's mind.

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Categories: Engaging with Courses , Strategies for Learning

Reading is one of the most important components of college learning, and yet it’s one we often take for granted. Of course, students who come to Harvard know how to read, but many are unaware that there are different ways to read and that the strategies they use while reading can greatly impact memory and comprehension. Furthermore, students may find themselves encountering kinds of texts they haven’t worked with before, like academic articles and books, archival material, and theoretical texts.

So how should you approach reading in this new environment? And how do you manage the quantity of reading you’re asked to cover in college?

Start by asking “Why am I reading this?”

To read effectively, it helps to read with a goal . This means understanding before you begin reading what you need to get out of that reading. Having a goal is useful because it helps you focus on relevant information and know when you’re done reading, whether your eyes have seen every word or not.

Some sample reading goals:

To find a paper topic or write a paper;
To have a comment for discussion;
To supplement ideas from lecture;
To understand a particular concept;
To memorize material for an exam;
To research for an assignment;
To enjoy the process (i.e., reading for pleasure!).

Your goals for reading are often developed in relation to your instructor’s goals in assigning the reading, but sometimes they will diverge. The point is to know what you want to get out of your reading and to make sure you’re approaching the text with that goal in mind. Write down your goal and use it to guide your reading process.

Next, ask yourself “How should I read this?”

Not every text you’re assigned in college should be read the same way. Depending on the type of reading you’re doing and your reading goal, you may find that different reading strategies are most supportive of your learning. Do you need to understand the main idea of your text? Or do you need to pay special attention to its language? Is there data you need to extract? Or are you reading to develop your own unique ideas?

The key is to choose a reading strategy that will help you achieve your reading goal. Factors to consider might be:

The timing of your reading (e.g., before vs. after class)
What type of text you are reading (e.g., an academic article vs. a novel)
How dense or unfamiliar a text is
How extensively you will be using the text
What type of critical thinking (if any) you are expected to bring to the reading

Based on your consideration of these factors, you may decide to skim the text or focus your attention on a particular portion of it. You also might choose to find resources that can assist you in understanding the text if it is particularly dense or unfamiliar. For textbooks, you might even use a reading strategy like SQ3R .

Finally, ask yourself “How long will I give this reading?”

Often, we decide how long we will read a text by estimating our reading speed and calculating an appropriate length of time based on it. But this can lead to long stretches of engaging ineffectually with texts and losing sight of our reading goals. These calculations can also be quite inaccurate, since our reading speed is often determined by the density and familiarity of texts, which varies across assignments.

For each text you are reading, ask yourself “based on my reading goal, how long does this reading deserve ?” Sometimes, your answer will be “This is a super important reading. So, it takes as long as it takes.” In that case, create a time estimate using your best guess for your reading speed. Add some extra time to your estimate as a buffer in case your calculation is a little off. You won’t be sad to finish your reading early, but you’ll struggle if you haven’t given yourself enough time.

For other readings, once we ask how long the text deserves, we will realize based on our other academic commitments and a text’s importance in the course that we can only afford to give a certain amount of time to it. In that case, you want to create a time limit for your reading. Try to come up with a time limit that is appropriate for your reading goal. For instance, let’s say I am working with an academic article. I need to discuss it in class, but I can only afford to give it thirty minutes of time because we’re reading several articles for that class. In this case, I will set an alarm for thirty minutes and spend that time understanding the thesis/hypothesis and looking through the research to look for something I’d like to discuss in class. In this case, I might not read every word of the article, but I will spend my time focusing on the most important parts of the text based on how I need to use it.

If you need additional guidance or support, reach out to the course instructor and the ARC.

If you find yourself struggling through the readings for a course, you can ask the course instructor for guidance. Some ways to ask for help are: “How would you recommend I go about approaching the reading for this course?” or “Is there a way for me to check whether I am getting what I should be out of the readings?”

If you are looking for more tips on how to read effectively and efficiently, book an appointment with an academic coach at the ARC to discuss your specific assignments and how you can best approach them!

Seeing Textbooks in a New Light

Textbooks can be a fantastic supportive resource for your learning. They supplement the learning you’ll do in the classroom and can provide critical context for the material you cover there. In some courses, the textbook may even have been written by the professor to work in harmony with lectures.

There are a variety of ways in which professors use textbooks, so you need to assess critically how and when to read the textbook in each course you take.

Textbooks can provide:

A fresh voice through which to absorb material. For challenging concepts, they can offer new language and details that might fill in gaps in your understanding.
The chance to “preview” lecture material, priming your mind for the big ideas you’ll be exposed to in class.
The chance to review material, making sense of the finer points after class.
A resource that is accessible any time, whether it’s while you are studying for an exam, writing a paper, or completing a homework assignment.

Textbook reading is similar to and different from other kinds of reading . Some things to keep in mind as you experiment with its use:

The answer is “both” and “it depends.” In general, reading or at least previewing the assigned textbook material before lecture will help you pay attention in class and pull out the more important information from lecture, which also tends to make note-taking easier. If you read the textbook before class, then a quick review after lecture is useful for solidifying the information in memory, filling in details that you missed, and addressing gaps in your understanding. In addition, reading before and/or after class also depends on the material, your experience level with it, and the style of the text. It’s a good idea to experiment with when works best for you!

Just like other kinds of course reading, it is still important to read with a goal . Focus your reading goals on the particular section of the textbook that you are reading: Why is it important to the course I’m taking? What are the big takeaways? Also take note of any questions you may have that are still unresolved.

Reading linearly (left to right and top to bottom) does not always make the most sense. Try to gain a sense of the big ideas within the reading before you start: Survey for structure, ask Questions, and then Read – go back to flesh out the finer points within the most important and detail-rich sections.

Summarizing pushes you to identify the main points of the reading and articulate them succinctly in your own words, making it more likely that you will be able to retrieve this information later. To further strengthen your retrieval abilities, quiz yourself when you are done reading and summarizing. Quizzing yourself allows what you’ve read to enter your memory with more lasting potential, so you’ll be able to recall the information for exams or papers.

Marking Text

Marking text, which often involves making marginal notes, helps with reading comprehension by keeping you focused. It also helps you find important information when reviewing for an exam or preparing to write an essay. The next time you’re reading, write notes in the margins as you go or, if you prefer, make notes on a separate document.

Your marginal notes will vary depending on the type of reading. Some possible areas of focus:

What themes do you see in the reading that relate to class discussions?
What themes do you see in the reading that you have seen in other readings?
What questions does the reading raise in your mind?
What does the reading make you want to research more?
Where do you see contradictions within the reading or in relation to other readings for the course?
Can you connect themes or events to your own experiences?

Your notes don’t have to be long. You can just write two or three words to jog your memory. For example, if you notice that a book has a theme relating to friendship, you can just write, “pp. 52-53 Theme: Friendship.” If you need to remind yourself of the details later in the semester, you can re-read that part of the text more closely.

Reading Workshops

If you are looking for help with developing best practices and using strategies for some of the tips listed above, come to an ARC workshop on reading!

SciWithTech | Science, Technology and Essay Blog

The Value of Reading: An Essay in English for Students

Ishara upamali, value of reading essay in english for students 150 words.

This is the age of technology. But we all know the value of reading. There is a wide variety of reading material which is freely available to most of the people in the world. We can read books, magazines, newspapers, journals and so on.

In this age of technology, the computer has also become a very popular sores of reading.

Many people thought that books might become ' old fashioned '. Anyway, this is fortunately not true. In our country the annual Book Fair shows that books are still very popular among the children and adults.

We read for two main reasons. One is to find information and gather knowledge. The other is for fun and entertainment. For information and knowledge, we read non - fictional books. They are available on any subject we need. The choice and variety in each subject are so wide that selecting what we need is a problem. Good libraries in schools or public libraries can help us find what we need.

Value of reading essay in English for students 250 words

Now a days, books on fiction, that is; novels and story books are also freely available. Usually, friends get together and select books according to what they enjoy.

Reading is a very healthy habit, and is an interesting hobby not only to read books in your own language but also those written in another language. This will help improve your knowledge while enjoying yourself at the same time. Using the computer as a source of reading is popular. However, it is important to select carefully as there is no one to guide you.

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Reading is a Good Habit Essay

An Essay On Reading Is A Good Habit

Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing (L-S-R-W) are the four skills of language learning. These are the set of four capabilities that allow an individual to comprehend and use a spoken language for proper and effective interpersonal communication. Reading is considered as one of the best habits anyone can possess. Reading helps a great deal in building our confidence, reduces stress and puts us in a better mood. It also develops our imagination and provides us with a fortune of knowledge. It is rightly said that books are our best friend as reading helps build up our wisdom and thinking capabilities. By developing the habit of reading, one can gain confidence in learning any language. The interest in reading, like any other habit, comes with time. Once a person starts reading, it becomes a part of habit and he/she starts to explore a whole new world.

Reading good books has a plethora of advantages. The habit of reading broadens our horizons and helps us become a better person in life. It also helps in developing a fresh viewpoint of life. The more we read, the more we fall in love with reading. It helps to develop vocabulary and language abilities. Reading is also one of the best ways to reduce anxiety as it provides relaxation and recreation. A book puts us in a better mood and allows us to have a strong imagination. At the end of a hectic and stressful day, all we need is a good book to help us rejuvenate and momentarily escape from the realities of life.

The habit of reading must be inculcated in children from a young age. Reading is a great habit from the learning point of view as it boosts the understanding of language, improves vocabulary, helps in improving speaking and writing skills, etc. While reading a book, the plot and its characters hover in our imagination. It is said that reading builds imagination power more than any other form of activity. Anyone who has good reading skills shows indication of higher intelligence as reading helps to broaden our wisdom and knowledge to a great extent. It not only boosts our confidence but personality too.

One of the most beneficial habits one can have is reading. It expands your creativity and provides you with a wealth of information. Reading helps you create confidence and improve your attitude, thus books are your best friend or partner. When you start reading every day, you'll discover a whole new world of information.

When you make it a practice to read every day, you will become addicted to it. Reading can help you develop cognitively and offer you a fresh perspective on life. Good novels can have a great impact on people and lead you down the correct path in life. The more time you spend reading, the more you will fall in love with it. The more time you spend reading, the more you will fall in love with it. Reading can help you improve your vocabulary and linguistic skills. Reading can help you unwind and de-stress.

Reading boosts your creativity and gives you a greater grasp of life. Reading also encourages you to write, and if you do so, you will undoubtedly fall in love with the craft. If you want to create excellent habits in your life, reading should be at the top of your list because it is essential to a person's general growth and development.

Good books will always point you in the right direction. The following are some of the advantages of reading books:

Self-improvement: Reading can help you think more positively. Reading is important because it molds your thinking and provides you with a wealth of information and life lessons. Books will help you have a better understanding of the world around you from a new perspective. It keeps your mind active, healthy, and helps you be more creative.

Communication Skills: Reading increases your vocabulary, enhances your language skills, and improves your communication skills. It teaches you how to be more creative with your thoughts. It not only improves your communication skills, but it also helps you improve your writing skills. In every element of life, effective communication is essential.

Increases your Understanding: Books provide you a foundational understanding of civilizations, customs, the arts, history, geography, health, psychology, and a variety of other topics and elements of life. Books provide an unlimited amount of information and wisdom.

Reduces Stress: Reading a good book transports you to another world and helps you escape the stresses of everyday life. There are a number of beneficial impacts on your mind, body, and soul that aid with stress relief. It keeps your mind healthy and powerful by stimulating your brain muscles to perform efficiently.

Great Pleasure: Anyone who reads a book for pleasure does so. They delight in reading and gain access to a whole new universe. When you begin reading a book, you will become so engrossed in it that you will not want to put it down until you have finished it.

Enhances your Imagination and Creativity: Reading enhances your imagination and creativity by transporting you to a realm of imagination and, in some ways, increasing your creativity. Reading allows you to examine life from several perspectives. You generate inventive and creative thoughts, visions, and opinions in your mind while reading books. It encourages you to think outside of the box, imagine, and use your imagination.

Enhances your Analytical Abilities: Active reading allows you to gain access to a variety of viewpoints on life. It aids in the analysis of your thoughts and the expression of your opinions. Active reading brings new ideas and thoughts to mind. It activates and alters your brain, allowing you to see things from a different perspective.

Boredom is Lessened: Despite all the other social activities, long-distance travel or a protracted vacation from work can be tedious. In such instances, books come in handy and keep you from being bored.

Reading books adds knowledge and plays a great role in education. Whether it is fiction or nonfiction, we get to learn a great deal from books. It exposes us to the outer world which helps acquire sensibility and understanding of different social subjects. It is therefore very important to develop a good reading habit. We should all read daily for at least 30 minutes to enjoy the wonderful beneficial perks of reading. It is a great happiness to live in a calm place and to enjoy the moments of reading. Reading a good and informative book is one of the most rejuvenating and enthusiastic experiences a person can have.

One must inculcate the habit of reading. Reading is said to be a great mental exercise. Reading also helps us release boredom. Reading allows us to sleep better. Hence, we must develop the habit of reading books before bedtime. Even in this digital age where any information is just a click away, reading has its own charm. The benefits of reading are irreplaceable as the detailed knowledge it provides is unmatched to anything we read on the internet. Happy reading!

FAQs on Reading is a Good Habit Essay

1. Why is the habit of reading so important?

Reading is important as it develops our thinking capacity and gives important life lessons. Reading molds our personality and makes us a better person. It also enhances our creativity and keeps our minds healthy and active. Reading improves communication and vocabulary skills. Whenever you try to speak in front of everyone, you are unable to speak proper English. This habit of speaking fluent English can only be corrected with the help of reading books regularly and speaking in English with your peers.

2. Why is the habit of reading declining?

The habit of reading is gradually declining. The advent of the internet is often described as the reason behind the changing habits of reading. Nowadays, most people go to the internet for information rather than reading books. The deterioration in reading habits can also lead to a decline in the world’s cultural development. Hence, people should give reading the importance it deserves. Accordingly, people are becoming lazier and not wanting to read as they find it a waste of time. The students nowadays find newspapers to be boring and they perceive mobile applications of new channels to be the ultimate source of news information.

3. What are the difficulties you will face if you don’t read?

If a student is unwilling to read and speak English or any other languages they intend to learn, then he or she will never be able to be creative and innovative in their approach to any other aspect of life. Reading opens up with the mind of the people and leads them to understand the concept of vocabulary and innovation. A lot of students struggle with their vocabulary and grammar. All of this is just done to help the students improve their speaking ability and experience. If you don't read then you won't be able to write good English literature answers in school as you won't be able to manage the content well.

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Benefits of Reading: Positive Impacts for All Ages Everyday

May 26, 2023

From apps to social media to Netflix to video games, there are so many ways to fill your free time that it can be hard to decide what to do. It’s also easy to overlook one of the most fulfilling and beneficial pastimes ever created. Let’s look at the main benefits of reading and how you can highlight them to your child.

What are the main benefits of reading books?

Benefits of reading before bed.

Benefits of reading to children

Benefits of reading out loud

Why is reading important.

Does listening to audiobooks have the same benefits?

What are the benefits of reading fiction?

What are the benefits of reading poetry, it’s a gym for your brain.

The act of reading is a remarkable mental feat and reading comprehension uses a lot of your brain power. When you’re thumbing through a novel you’re building a whole world of people, places and events in your mind and remembering it all as you follow the story. This gives your imagination and memory a thorough workout and strengthens networks in various other parts of your brain too. 💪

If you’re reading a non-fiction book you’re also getting an in-depth experience of a subject full of facts and details that you need to hold in your mind to follow the arguments of the writer.

It’s well known that your memory improves with use as new memories are created and connected to older ones, making them stronger and easier to recall. Scientists have even found that the other parts of the brain activated by reading can continue to improve days after you’ve stopped reading, meaning even just a little bit of reading can go a long way.

It improves your focus

From Insta stories to tweets to TikTok videos, information is being packaged into ever smaller chunks and researchers believe our attention spans are getting shorter. However, being able to concentrate on one thing for long periods and ignore distractions is essential for school and for work. Reading is an excellent way to improve your concentration skills and the more you read, the better you’ll be able to focus. 🔍

It expands your vocabulary

Reading expands your vocabulary more than any other activity. A rich vocabulary allows you to understand the world in a more sophisticated way. Reading is also great for your grammar skills and lets you communicate your thoughts and ideas more accurately in all areas of your life.

It’s an education

Reading is the key to knowledge. Reading non-fiction books means you can learn about any subject you choose in as much detail as you want. Fiction allows you to learn about how other people all over the world live their lives and to put yourself in their shoes. This is a great way to improve your empathy and learn to approach other people with an open mind.

It helps your problem-solving skills

Reading fiction is also fantastic preparation to learn how to solve various types of problems you may not yet have encountered in your own life. You get the chance to follow the characters through all kinds of situations and find out how they deal with challenges big and small.

Maybe they make the right choices or maybe they don’t, either way, the writer has put a lot of thought and consideration into their story and you can always learn something from a character’s experiences. 🧩

It’s good therapy

Reading about difficult situations characters or real people experience can be hugely beneficial as well. It can be useful to read both fiction and non-fiction books about something you’re going through. Books can act as a type of therapy and help you to feel less alone in your situation.

This bibliotherapy has proven effective in helping people deal with issues such as depression or other mood disorders. The NHS even prescribes books to help people through its Reading Well programme!

Books offer the best value-for-money entertainment anywhere! There’s no expensive equipment to buy, no tickets to pay for and no monthly subscription fee. All you need is a library card for your local branch and you’re good to go!

Your nearest library probably has tens of thousands of different books available, so you’re sure to find a title to hook you. If they don’t have something in particular you're looking for, you can even ask the librarian to order it from another library.

Some libraries even offer ebooks on loan which you can add to your ereader or tablet 🏛️

It’ll inspire your child

If your children regularly see you reading you’ll be setting a good example. Children tend to copy what they see their parents do and they’ll soon be joining you storybook in hand for some quiet time you can enjoy together.

It’s great for stress

It’s not most people’s first idea of a relaxation technique, but reading does an awesome job of helping you manage stress. According to research, reading can lead to a lower heart rate and blood pressure and a calmer mind and just six minutes of reading can bring your stress levels down by more than 66%.

It helps you live longer!

If you still need another reason to commit yourself to read more, how about this: reading can actually help you live longer! Researchers discovered that those who read for half an hour a day had a 23% chance of living longer than people who didn’t read very much. In fact, readers lived around two years longer than non-readers! 🌳

So, if we’ve convinced you that you and your family need more reading in your lives, when is the best time to do it? Well, reading at bedtime allows you to kill two birds with one stone.

It helps you get a good night’s sleep

Despite its importance, many of us don’t follow good sleep hygiene and spend the hours before bedtime staring at screens big and small, leading to difficulty falling asleep and affecting the quality of our slumber. The NHS found that one in three of us experience poor sleep.

Choose to read an actual book before bedtime instead of checking your social media or watching Netflix and you can look forward to a better night’s rest. Reading fiction is a good way of relaxing the body and calming your mind and preparing for bed and has been shown to be as relaxing as meditation. 💤

It calms your child

If you treat your child to story time and read to them just before they go to bed you’ll discover that it’s perfect for calming them down and getting them in the right mood for sleep. As a bonus, they’ll get used to sitting still and concentrating on one thing for a long time.

Benefits of reading to children

Children can eventually enjoy all the benefits of reading mentioned above but whether they are too small to read much themselves or they just enjoy listening to you tell them a story, they can get some extra value out of the experience if you read to them regularly yourself.

It gives them a love of learning

If you start by reading to your child you can get them hooked on books and start a habit that will last them throughout their lives and repay your investment over and over again. Children who learn to read for pleasure will go on to enjoy greater academic success throughout their education according to research. 👩🏽‍🎓

It gives them a head-start

Even if your little one is a toddler who isn’t ready to start reading storybooks by themselves, you can give their literacy skills an early boost and teach them to read by reading to them yourself. They might not understand everything but they’ll pick up enough to get the idea. Let them see the words on the page as you read and encourage them to turn the page when you get to the last word.

By reading to them you’ll be helping them follow the natural rhythms of language, practise their listening skills and expose them to vocabulary they might not get to hear in their day-to-day lives.

It brings you together

Time spent reading to your child is a wonderful chance to create some beautiful, cosy, loving memories together and strengthen your bond. It will become something like a regular adventure you and your child can look forward to doing together and will remember all your lives. 👩‍👦

It also gives you lots to talk about later and you can have enjoyable discussions about the characters, plots, dilemmas and mysteries you discover during your reading time.

Even when your child starts to read for themselves, you don’t need to stop your shared storytime. You can swap it up, with them taking on the role of the reader as you listen or you can take turns reading to each other.

You’ve probably been taught that the best method of reading is in silence. However, research has found that quiet reading isn’t actually always the better option and that there are in fact some benefits of reading out loud. 📢

It helps you understand

It turns out that speaking as you read can help you understand texts better. You probably read aloud more than you realise. If you’ve ever received a slightly convoluted message or email or you’ve tried to read confusing legal jargon, you’ve probably found yourself repeating the words out loud to more clearly understand what was meant. ✅

It helps you remember

Or perhaps you’ve tried to memorise a phone number or the lines of a speech and you automatically started to say the information aloud to help you remember.

Psychologists call this the “production effect” and have discovered that these tactics do actually help people remember things more easily, especially children. 📚

Research from Australia showed that children who were told to read out loud recognized 17% more words compared to children who were asked to read silently. In another study, adults were able to identify 20% more words they had read aloud.

The theory is that because reading aloud is an active process it makes words more distinctive, and so easier to remember. 🧠

Why read?

Reading is the most effective way to get information about almost everything and is the key ingredient in learning for school, work and pleasure. On top of this, reading boosts imagination, communication, memory, concentration, and empathy. It also lowers stress levels and leads to a longer life.

Does listening to audiobooks have the same benefits as reading books?

It can be hard to concentrate for a long time and the experience of reading. With a real book you can quickly scan your eyes back over the page to reread what you’ve missed, this isn’t so easy with an audiobook. A psychology study showed that students who read material did 28% better on a test than those who heard the same material as a podcast.

Reading fiction is a useful way to develop your empathy, social skills and emotional intelligence. Fictional stories allow you to put yourself in other people's shoes and see things from various perspectives. In fact, brain scans show that many of the parts of the brain you use to interact with other people are also activated when you’re reading fiction.

Poetry is the home of the most creative, imaginative and beautiful examples of language and allows you to connect those powerful lines to real emotions all of us feel. Poetry is also efficient and a good poet can reveal deep ideas with a simple phrase. Reading poetry can also inspire your creativity and write some expressive verse of your own!

Reading is something most of us have been doing all our lives and as a result, we can easily take it for granted, but it’s a great all-around experience for your mind and spirit. So, it's really worth digging out your library card and finding books you and your child can read together.

If your child is having problems with reading, here at GoStudent we have education experts on standby to give you and them a helping hand in improving their literacy skills or any other learning challenges they need support with. Schedule a free trial lesson with GoStudent today!

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Reading comprehension worksheets terms of use, read theory workbooks visit our online store here .

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Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Worksheets

Take these as online quizzes here!

Short Story Reading Comprehension Worksheets

Beginning Level
Answers for this series are included at the end of each worksheet.
"My Friend" - Low Beginning. 3 answer choices. 7 questions. 74 words.
"My House" - Low Beginning. 3 answer choices. 7 questions. 92 words.
"Time to..." - Low Beginning. 4 answer choices. 11 questions. 89 words.
"My Family" - Low Beginning. 4 answer choices. 6 questions. 90 words.
"Rainy Day" - Low Beginning. 4 answer choices. 5 questions. 78 words.
"A Call to the Pool" - Low Beginning. 4 answer choices. 5 questions. 116 words.
"The Singing Bird" - Low Beginning. 4 answer choices. 5 questions. 96 words.
"Seeing Stars" - Low Beginning. 4 answer choices. 8 questions. 92 words.
"I Fly" - Low Beginning. 4 answer choices. 4 questions. 113 words.
"The Drive" - Mid Beginning. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 120 words.
"Zach's Animals" - Mid Beginning. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 104 words.
"Griffin's Talents" - Mid Beginning. 4 answer choices. 9 questions. 112 words.
"A Happy Visitor" - Mid Beginning. 4 answer choices. 5 questions. 170 words.
"An Adventure" - Mid Beginning. 4 answer choices. 5 questions. 177 words.
"Running" - Mid Beginning. 4 answer choices. 5 questions. 148 words.
"Paul Cooks" - Mid Beginning. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 112 words.
"Bella Hides" - Mid Beginning. 4 answer choices. 8 questions. 135 words.
"First Prize" - Mid Beginning. 4 answer choices. 8 questions. 155 words.
"What Number?" - Mid Beginning. 4 answer choices. 12 questions. 154 words.
"The Interview" - High Beginning. 4 answer choices. 9 questions. 205 words.
"Julian's Work" - High Beginning. 4 answer choices. 12 questions. 194 words.
"Talia's Special Day" - High Beginning. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 204 words.
"One Hundred Dollars" - High Beginning. 4 answer choices. 13 questions. 273 words.
"New Shoes for Maddy" - High Beginning. 4 answer choices. 11 questions. 223 words.
"The 20" - High Beginning. 4 answer choices. 12 questions. 256 words.
"Big City Noise" - High Beginning. 4 answer choices. 13 questions. 238 words.
Intermediate Level
"By the Water" - Low Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 9 questions. 225 words.
"A Cold Day" - Low Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 14 questions. 286 words.
"Vet Emergency!" - Low Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 247 words.
"Late" - Low Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 14 questions. 284 words.
"The Brenners" - Low Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 13 questions. 297 words.
"Bullied" - Low Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 13 questions. 197 words.
"The New School" - Low Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 14 questions. 286 words.
"The Park" - Low Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 11 questions. 297 words.
"Worth Working For" - Mid Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 280 words.
"The Rent Man" - Mid Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 12 questions. 215 words.
"Time with Grandpa" - Mid Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 9 questions. 237 words.
"The Bus Driver" - Mid Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 15 questions. 294 words.
"A Day Like No Other" - Mid Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 12 questions. 305 words.
"A Mystery" - Mid Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 247 words.
"Just One Touch" - Mid Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 15 questions. 326 words.
"Wanga" - Mid Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 13 questions. 340 words.
"Ana Finds an Apartment" - Mid Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 12 questions. 408 words.
"Guermo's Surprise" - High Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 9 questions. 372 words .
"Canopy of Nature" - High Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 8 questions. 332 words .
"Blizzard in Birmingham" - High Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 319 words.
"A Christmas in March" - High Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 385 words.
"Bail" - High Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 301 words.
"Clean Water Act" - High Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 632 words.
"BB" - High Intermediate. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 511 words .
Advanced Level
"The Mini Problem" - Low Advanced. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 291 words .
"Flower Power" - Low Advanced. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 368 words.
"Seeing Clearly" - Low Advanced. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 284 words .
"Accused" - Low Advanced. 4 answer choices. 12 questions. 285 words.
"City Girl" - Low Advanced. 4 answer choices. 13 questions. 429 words.
"Fried" - Mid Advanced. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 235 words.
"Tattoo" - Mid Advanced. 4 answer choices. 11 questions. 350 words.
"The Transfers" - Mid Advanced. 4 answer choices. 12 questions. 381 words.
"Wild" - Mid Advanced. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 493 words.
"Scorpion" - Low Advanced. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 333 words
"Remains of a Marriage" - Mid Advanced. 4 answer choices. 11 questions. 345 words.
"Museum Hours" - Mid Advanced. 4 answer choices. 10 questions. 179 words.
"Seeing Through" - High Advanced. 5 answer choices. 10 questions. 326 words.
"Ursula Pugh" - High Advanced. 5 answer choices. 8 questions. 324 words.
"Dreams" - High Advanced. 4 answer choices. 12 questions. 357 words.
"Tracks" - High Advanced. 5 answer choices. 11 questions. 531 words.
"Love Train" - High Advanced. 5 answer choices. 12 questions. 646 words.
"The Storm" - High Advanced. 4 answer choices. 12 questions. 407 words.

Informational Passages Reading Comprehension Worksheets

In these reading comprehension worksheets, students are asked questions about information they have read about a specific topic. each passage reads similar to a newspaper of journal article, and provides interesting information about some aspect of history, nature, mechanics, science, art, and more. questions involve critical thinking with a focus on logic and inference..

Answer Key - This answer key is available but still under development.
"The Sun" - Low Beginning. 3 questions. Under 50 words.
"Gas" - Low Beginning. 3 questions. Under 50 words.
"Music" - Low Beginning. 4 questions. Under 50 words.
"Birds" - Low Beginning. 4 questions. Under 50 words.
"The Heart" - Low Beginning. 4 questions. Under 50 words.
"The Butterfly" - Low Beginning. 5 questions. Under 50 words.
"Pigs" - Low Beginning. 3 questions. Under 50 words.
"The Brain" - Low Beginning. 3 questions. Under 50 words.
"The Ocean" - Low Beginning. 7 questions. Under 100 words.
"Trees" - Low Beginning. 4 questions. Under 100 words.
"Alligators" - Low Beginning. 6 questions. Under 100 words.
"The Blow-Dryer" - Low Beginning. 5 questions. Under 100 words.
"Green Grass" - Low Beginning. 6 questions. Under 100 words.
"Taste" - Low Beginning. 4 questions. Under 100 words.
"Bees" - Mid Beginning. 10 questions. Under 200 words.
"Frogs" - Mid Beginning. 10 questions. Under 200 words.
"Beds" - Mid Beginning. 10 questions. Under 200 words.
"Humans" - Mid Beginning. 10 questions. Under 200 words.
"Fish" - Mid Beginning. 10 questions. Under 200 words.
"Houses" - Mid Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Soda Pop" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 200 words.
"Tea" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 200 words.
"Ice Fishing" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Bears" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Flags" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Leonardo Da Vinci" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words..
"Tennis" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Dogs" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Money" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Abraham Lincoln" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Corn" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Umbrellas" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Ben Franklin" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Cars" - High Beginning. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
Answer Key - This is the answer key for to the intermediate level informational passages.
"Helicopters" - Low Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Yellowstone National Park" - Low Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 400 words.
"Empress of the Blues" - Low Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 400 words.
"The Cactus" - Low Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 400 words.
"Space Exploration Voyagers 1 and 2" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 400 words.
"Television" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 400 words.
"Hibernation and Estivation" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 400 words.
"Marco Polo" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 400 words.
"Movie Ratings" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 400 words.
"Birdsongs" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 400 words.
"Counting" - Mid Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 400 words.
"Easter Island" - High Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 400 words.
"Mosquitoes" - High Intermediate. 12 questions. Under 700 words.
"Fingerprints" - High Intermediate. 11 questions. Under 700 words.
"Mother's Day" - High Intermediate. 10 questions. Under 700 words.
"Europe" - High Intermediate. 12 questions. Under 700 words.
Answer Key - This is the answer key for to the advanced level informational passages.
"Chocolate" - Low Advanced. 10 questions. Under 600 words.
"Houses Around the World" - Low Advanced. 10 questions. Under 700 words.
"Cells" - Low Advanced. 10 questions. Under 700 words.
"Soccer" - Low Advanced. 12 questions. Under 700 words.
"Bathtubs" - Low Advanced. 12 questions. Under 700 words.
"Pollution" - Low Advanced. 12 questions. Under 700 words.
"Interstate Highways" - Low Advanced. 10 questions. Under 800 words.
"The U.S. Census" - Low Advanced. 10 questions. Under 800 words.
"Sleep" - Low Advanced. 11 questions. Under 800 words.
"The U.S. Postal Service" - Mid Advanced. 11 questions. Under 800 words.
"Chemical Elements" - Mid Advanced. 11 questions. Under 800 words.
"Africa" - Mid Advanced. 11 questions. Under 1000 words.

Technical Reading Comprehension Worksheets

In these reading comprehension worksheets, students are asked questions about the meaning, significance, intention, structure, inference, and vocabulary used in each passage. each passage reads like an encyclopedic or technical journal article. answers for worksheets in this section can be found at the end of each individual worksheet..

"Water" - Beginning level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 300 words.
"Paper" - Beginning level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 300 words.
"The Flu" - Beginning level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 400 words.
"Nuts" - Beginning level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 400 words.
"The Sun" - Beginning level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 400 words.
"The White House" - Beginning level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 400 words.
"Soap" - Intermediate level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 400 words.
"Clocks" - Intermediate level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 400 words.
"The Robin" - Intermediate level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 400 words.
"Hybrid Vehicles" - Intermediate level. 4 questions with answers included. Under 500 words.
"Photography" - Intermediate level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 500 words.
"Biomimetics" - Intermediate level. 4 questions with answers included. Under 700 words.
"The Great Debates" - Intermediate level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 400 words.
"Salt" - Advanced level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 700 words.
"Colony Collapse" - Advanced level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 600 words.
"Columbian Exchange" - Advanced level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 700 words.
"Ethanol" - Advanced level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 600 words.
"Generations" - Advanced level. 3 questions with answers included. Under 600 words.
"The Hubble Telescope" - Advanced level. 7 questions with answers included. Under 1000 words.
"Intellegence Augmentation" - Advanced level. 5 questions with answers included. Under 1000 words.

Role Play Reading Comprehension Worksheets

In these reading comprehension worksheets, students can increase their understanding of colloquial and idiomatic expressions and get a feel for conversational english. they also allow several students to participate at the same time - which makes them really fun great for use in school or at home..

Answer Key - This is the answer key to the role play worksheets.
"What Time Is It?" - Beginning Level. 4 questions. Under 100 words.
"How Are You?" - Beginning Level. 4 questions. Under 100 words.
"Tie Your Shoes!" - Beginning Level. 4 questions. Under 100 words.
"Where Are My Glasses?" - Beginning Level. 4 questions. Under 100 words.
"A Cookie" - Beginning Level. 4 questions. Under 100 words.
"Where Are My Keys?" - Beginning Level. 4 questions. Under 100 words.
"City Life, Country Life" - Beginning Level. 10 questions. Under 200 words.
"Flu Shot" - Intermediate Level. 5 questions. Under 200 words.
"Vinegar" - Intermediate Level. 4 questions. Under 200 words.
"Wait for Me!" - Intermediate Level. 8 questions. Under 400 words.
"Glasses" - Intermediate Level. 8 questions. Under 400 words.
"Hungry" - Advanced Level. 8 questions. Under 400 words.
"Want to Know a Secret?" - Advanced Level. 8 questions. Under 200 words.
"Milk and Aesthetics" - Advanced Level. 8 questions. Under 500 words.

Dual Version Reading Comprehension Worksheets

In each of these reading comprehension worksheets, the same story is told, but with two versions: one that is basic, and one that is more advanced. this allows students to make direct comparisons between the advanced version to the more basic one, and makes for a powerful learning experience..

Answer Key - Coming Soon!
"An Overcast Day" - Beginning Level. 4 questions. Under 200 words.
"Who Knows My Name?" - Beginning Level. 4 questions. Under 200 words.
"A Call to the Pool" - Beginning Level. 6 questions. Under 300 words.
"Oh No!" - Beginning Level. 8 questions. Under 300 words.
"An Adventure" - Beginning Level. 6 questions. Under 400 words.
"Happy Birthday" - Beginning Level. 4 questions. Under 400 words.
"My Family" - Beginning Level. 8 questions. Under 300 words.
"My Family" - Beginning Level. 5 questions. Under 300 words.
"Driving Directions" - Beginning Level. 6 questions. Under 400 words.
"A Happy Visitor" - Beginning Level. 7 questions. Under 300 words.
"The Singing Bird" - Intermediate Level. 10 questions. Under 300 words.
"Violet Makes a Cake" - Intermediate Level. 8 questions. Under 400 words.
"A Visit to the Doctor" - Intermediate Level. 7 questions. Under 400 words.
"Making Dinner" - Intermediate Level. 8 questions. Under 400 words.
"The Market" - Intermediate Level. 10 questions. Under 500 words.
"Maria Gets Her License" - Intermediate Level. 8 questions. Under 500 words.
"A Paper for School" - Advanced Level. 7 questions. Under 300 words.
"A Birthday Surprise" - Advanced Level. 7 questions. Under 600 words.
"Getting a New Job" - Advanced Level. 8 questions. Under 600 words.
"The Dinner Party" - Advanced Level. 9 questions. Under 600 words.

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The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Academic Reading Strategies

Completing reading assignments is one of the biggest challenges in academia. However, are you managing your reading efficiently? Consider this cooking analogy, noting the differences in process:

Taylor’s process was more efficient because his purpose was clear. Establishing why you are reading something will help you decide how to read it, which saves time and improves comprehension. This guide lists some purposes for reading as well as different strategies to try at different stages of the reading process.

Purposes for reading

People read different kinds of text (e.g., scholarly articles, textbooks, reviews) for different reasons. Some purposes for reading might be

to scan for specific information
to skim to get an overview of the text
to relate new content to existing knowledge
to write something (often depends on a prompt)
to critique an argument
to learn something
for general comprehension

Strategies differ from reader to reader. The same reader may use different strategies for different contexts because their purpose for reading changes. Ask yourself “why am I reading?” and “what am I reading?” when deciding which strategies to try.

Before reading

Establish your purpose for reading
Speculate about the author’s purpose for writing
Review what you already know and want to learn about the topic (see the guides below)
Preview the text to get an overview of its structure, looking at headings, figures, tables, glossary, etc.
Predict the contents of the text and pose questions about it. If the authors have provided discussion questions, read them and write them on a note-taking sheet.
Note any discussion questions that have been provided (sometimes at the end of the text)
Sample pre-reading guides – K-W-L guide
Critical reading questionnaire

During reading

Annotate and mark (sparingly) sections of the text to easily recall important or interesting ideas
Check your predictions and find answers to posed questions
Use headings and transition words to identify relationships in the text
Create a vocabulary list of other unfamiliar words to define later
Try to infer unfamiliar words’ meanings by identifying their relationship to the main idea
Connect the text to what you already know about the topic
Take breaks (split the text into segments if necessary)
Sample annotated texts – Journal article · Book chapter excerpt

After reading

Summarize the text in your own words (note what you learned, impressions, and reactions) in an outline, concept map, or matrix (for several texts)
Talk to someone about the author’s ideas to check your comprehension
Identify and reread difficult parts of the text
Define words on your vocabulary list (try a learner’s dictionary ) and practice using them
Sample graphic organizers – Concept map · Literature review matrix

Works consulted

Grabe, W., & Stoller, F. L. (2002). Teaching and researching reading. Harlow: Longman.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout (just click print) and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

If you enjoy using our handouts, we appreciate contributions of acknowledgement.

Harvard Library
Research Guides
Faculty of Arts & Sciences Libraries

Interrogating Texts

Reading Strategies

15th century Altarpiece fragment, Mary Magdalene reading. National Gallery (Great Britain). Available through ArtSTOR

Rogier van der Weyden, 1399 -1464. Altarpiece fragment, Mary Magdalene reading. National Gallery (Great Britain). Available through A rt STOR

Workshop of Rogier van der Weyden. St. Ivo reading, ca.1450. National Gallery (Great Britain). Available through ArtSTOR

max beckmann reclining woman reading with irises 1923

Max Beckmann (1884-1950). Reclining Woman Reading, with Irises (192 3). Oil on canvas. Private collection. Image available in HOLLIS

daumier reader man with book with red-edged pages

H onore Daumier (1808-1879). Reader (1863). Oil on wood. University of California, San Diego. Image available in ARTStor

young man reading book 16th century painting aga khan museum

Young Man Reading a Book (c.1570-1574). Attributed to Mirza 'Ali (c.1510-1576). Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper. Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Image available in HOLLIS

Ms. Richardson 5, fol. 66v Book of Hours, England, ca. 1420. Houghton Library. Image linked from HOLLIS

Pencil drawing of reader in Farnsworth Room] / E. E. Johnson, March 20, 1917

Pencil drawing of reader in Farnsworth Room [originally in Widener Library] / E. E. Johnson, March 20, 1917 [Farnsworth Room Scrapbooks, v.1]. image available in HOLLIS

Thinking-Intensive Reading

Critical reading--active engagement and interaction with texts--is essential to your academic success at Harvard, and to your intellectual growth. Research has shown that students who read deliberately retain more information and retain it longer.

Your college reading assignments will probably be more substantial and more sophisticated than those you are used to from high school. The amount of reading will almost certainly be greater. College students rarely have the luxury of successive re-readings of material, however, given the pace of life in and out of the classroom.

So how should you approach reading in this new environment?

While the strategies described below are (for the sake of clarity) listed sequentially, you typically do most of them simultaneously. If you're used to doing little more than moving your eyes across the page, they may feel awkward at first, and you may have to deploy them consciously. But

But as they become habits, you'll notice the differences -- both in what you “see” in a course reading, and in the confidence with which you approach your texts.

Look “around” the text before you start reading.

Previewing enables you to develop a set of expectations about the scope and aim of the text. These very preliminary impressions offer you a way to focus your reading.

You’ve probably engaged in one version of previewing in the past, when you’ve tried to determine how long an assigned reading is (and how much time and energy, as a result, it will demand from you). But you can learn a great deal more about the organization and purpose of a text by taking note of features other than its length. For instance:

What does the presence of headnotes , an abstrac t, or other prefatory materia l tell you?
Is the author known to you already? If so, how does their reputation or credentials (like an institutional affiliation) influence your perception of what you are about to read?

If an author is unfamiliar or unknown in an essay collection, does an editor introduce them (by supplying brief biographical information, an assessment of the author’s work, concerns, and importance)?

Texts demand different things of you as you read, so whenever you can, register the type of information you’re presented with.

How does the disposition or layout of a text prepare you for reading? Is the material broken into parts--subtopics, sections, or the like? Are there long and unbroken blocks of text or smaller paragraphs or “chunks” and what does this suggest? How might the identified parts of a text guide you toward understanding the line of inquiry or the arc of the argument that's being made?
Does the text seem to be arranged according to certain conventions of discourse ? Newspaper articles, for instance, have characteristics that you will recognize, including "easy" language. Textbooks and scholarly essays are organized quite differently.

2. Annotate

Annotating puts you actively and immediately in a "dialogue” with an author and the issues and ideas you encounter in a written text. .

It's also a way to have an ongoing conversation with yourself as you move through the text and to record what that encounter was like for you. Here's how to make your reading thinking-intensive from start to finish:

Throw away your highlighter : Highlighting can seem like an active reading strategy, but it can actually distract from the business of learning and dilute your comprehension. Those bright yellow lines you put on a printed page one day can seem strangely cryptic the next, unless you have a method for remembering why they were important to you at another moment in time. Pen or pencil will allow you to do more to a text you have to wrestle with.
Mark up the margins of your text with words and phrases : the ideas that occur to you, notes about things that seem important to you, reminders of how issues in a text may connect with class discussion or course themes. This kind of interaction keeps you conscious of the reasons you are reading as well as the purposes your instructor has in mind. Later in the term, when you are reviewing for a test or project, your marginalia will be useful memory triggers.
Develop your own symbol system : asterisk (*) a key idea, for example, or use an exclamation point (!) for the surprising, absurd, bizarre. Your personalized set of hieroglyphs allow you to capture the important -- and often fleeting -- insights that occur to you as you're reading. Like notes in your margins, they'll prove indispensable when you return to a text in search of that perfect passage to use in a paper, or when you are preparing for a big exam.
Get in the habit of hearing yourself ask questions: “What does this mean?” “Why is the writer drawing that conclusion?” “Why am I being asked to read this text?” etc.

Write the questions down (in your margins, at the beginning or end of the reading, in a notebook, or elsewhere. They are reminders of the unfinished business you still have with a text: something to ask during class discussion, or to come to terms with on your own, once you’ve had a chance to digest the material further or have done other course reading.

3. Outline, Summarize, and Analyze

The best way to determine that you’ve really gotten the point is to be able to state it in your own words. take the information apart, look at its parts, and then, put it back together again in language that is meaningful to you. three ways to proceed: .

Outlining the argument of a text is a version of annotating, and can be done quite informally in the margins of the text, unless you prefer the more formal Roman numeral model you may have learned in high school. Outlining enables you to see the skeleton of an argument: the thesis, the first point and evidence (and so on), through the conclusion. With weighty or difficult readings, that skeleton may not be obvious until you go looking for it.

Summarizing accomplishes something similar, but in sentence and paragraph form, and with the connections between ideas made explicit.

Analyzing adds an evaluative component to the summarizing process—it requires you not just to restate main ideas, but also to test the logic, credibility, and emotional impact of an argument. In analyzing a text, you reflect upon and decide how effectively (or poorly) its argument has been made. Questions to ask:

What is the writer asserting?
What am I being asked to believe or accept? Facts? Opinions? Some mixture?
What reasons or evidence does the author supply to convince me? Where is the strongest or most effective evidence the author offers -- and why is it compelling?
Is there any place in the text where the reasoning breaks down? Are there things that do not make sense, conclusions that are drawn prematurely, moments where the writer undermines their purposes?

4. Look for repetitions and patterns

The way language is chosen, used, and positioned in a text can be an important indication of what an author considers crucial and what they expect you to glean from their argument. .

Language choices can also alert you to ideological positions, hidden agendas or biases. Be watching for:

Recurring images
Repeated words, phrases, types of examples, or illustrations
Consistent ways of characterizing people, events, or issues

5. Contextualize

Once you’ve finished reading actively and annotating it, consider the text from the multiple perspectives..

When you contextualize, you essentially "re-view" a text you've encountered, acknowledging how it is framed by its historical, cultural, material, or intellectual circumstances. Do these factors change, complicate, explain, deepen or otherwise influence how you view a piece?

Also view the reading through the lens of your own experience. Your understanding of the words on the page and their significance is always shaped by what you have come to know and value from living in a particular time and place.

6. Compare and Contrast

Set course readings against each other to determine their relationships (hidden or explicit)..

At what point in the term does this reading come? Why that point, do you imagine?
How does it contribute to the main concepts and themes of the course?
How does it compare (or contrast) to the ideas presented by texts that come before it? Does it continue a trend, shift direction, or expand the focus of previous readings?
How has your thinking been altered by this reading, or how has it affected your response to the issues and themes of the course?

Susan Gilroy , Librarian for Undergraduate Writing Programs, Lamont Library

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Interrogating texts [2 page printable]

Last Updated: Jul 30, 2024 6:26 AM
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by Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

Essays Every High School Student Should Read

December 4, 2016 in Pedagogy

One of the most important goals of any English class should be to help students learn how to express themselves to an audience — how to tell their own stories, how to provide much-needed information, and how to convince others to see things from a different perspective.

Below are some essays students can read, not only to help them see how such writing is done in the real world, but also to learn more about the world around them.

[bctt tweet=”Need a #mentortext for student essays? Check out these exemplars for personal narrative, argumentative, and expository essay writing.”]

Note : This is a living list. I will continue adding to it as I find important essays and articles, and as my readers make suggestions.

If You Think Racism Doesn’t Exist by Jordan Womack | Lesson Plan

A 17-year-old Oklahoma author details incidents of discrimination he has faced within his own community. Brief, yet impactful, the author’s authenticity strikes readers at their core and naturally leads the audience to consider other perspectives.

Facebook hack ‘worse than when my house burned down’ says teacher by Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

When a hacker destroyed my Facebook account and I couldn’t find a way to reach out to Facebook, I decided to use my story, voice, and platform to shed light on a situation faced by people around the world. This can serve as a mentor text for students writing personal narratives on shared experiences in the context of current events.

Letter from a Vietnamese to an Iraqi Refugee by Andrew Lam

Vietnamese lecturer, journalist, and author Andrew Lam offers advice in this letter to a young Iraqi refugee he sees in a photograph on the Internet.

Allowing Teenage Boys to Love Their Friends by Jan Hoffman

Learn why early and lifelong friendships are as vital for boys as they are for girls and what happens when those friendships are fractured.

Chris Cecil: Plagiarism Gets You Fired by Leonard Pitts Jr

The Miami Herald columnist and 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary winner castigates a Georgia newspaper editor for plagiarizing his work. This column would go great with this followup article from The Boston Globe: Ga. Editor is Fired for Lifting Columns .

Class Dismissed by Walter Kirn

The author of Lost in the Meritocracy postulates that getting rid of the high school senior year might be good for students.

Complaint Box | Packaging by Dylan Quinn

A high school junior complains about the impossible-to-open packaging faced by consumers of everything “from action figures to zip drives.”

Drowning in Dishes, but Finding a Home by Danial Adkison

In this 2014 essay, a teenager learns important lessons from his boss at Pizza Hut.

How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua

An American scholar of Chicana cultural theory discusses how she maintained her identity by refusing to submit to linguistic terrorism.

Humble Beast: Samaje Perine by John Rohde

The five-time Oklahoma Sportswriter of the Year features the University of Oklahoma’s running back.

In Praise of the F Word by Mary Sherry

An adult literacy program teacher argues that allowing students to fail will actually help them.

The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie

A Native American novelist recounts his experience loving reading and finally writing in spite of a culture that expected him to fail in the “non-Indian world” in order to be accepted.

Lane’s Legacy: One Final Ride by Keith Ryan Cartwright

A heartbreaking look back at the hours before and the circumstances surrounding Lane Frost’s untimely death, followed by reflections on his rise to fame — before and after death.

Learning to Read by Malcolm X

The 1960s Civil Rights leader writes about how educating himself in prison opened his mind and lead him to become one of the leading spokesmen for black separatism.

Learning to Read and Write by Frederick Douglass

A former slave born in 1818 discusses how he learned to read in spite of laws against teaching slaves and how reading opened his eyes to his “wretched condition, without remedy.”

Learning From Animal Friendships by Erica Goode

Scientists consider studying the phenomenon of cross-species animal friendships like the ones you see on YouTube.

Losing Everything, Except What Really Matters by Dan Barry

After a 2011 tornado destroys a house, but spares the family, a reporter writes about what’s important.

The Marked Woman by David Grann

How an Osage Indian family in Oklahoma became the prime target of one of the most sinister crimes in American history.

Meet Mikey, 8: U.S. Has Him on Watch List by Lizette Alvarez

Read about what happens if you happen to share a name of a “suspicious person” on the U.S. No-Fly List.

Newly Homeless in Japan Re-Establish Order Amid Chaos by Michael Wines

After the tsunami that resulted in nuclear disaster in 2011, a reporter writes about the “quiet bravery in the face of tragedy” of the Japanese people.

No Ordinary Joe by Rick Reilly

Why in creation did American Football Conference’s 1981 best young running back Joe Delaney jump into that pit full of water that day, even though he couldn’t swim?

Politics and the English Language By George Orwell

Animal Farm and 1984 author, Orwell correlates the degradation of the English language into multi-syllabic drivel and the corruption of the American political process.

Serving in Florida by Barbara Ehrenreich

The Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America author tells about her experiences attempting to survive on income of low-paying jobs.

Starvation Under the Orange Trees by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck, who later authored the fictionalized account of Okies in California, The Grapes of Wrath, first wrote this essay documenting the starvation of migrant workers in California during the Great Depression.

To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This by Mandy Len Catron

Is falling in love really a random event, or can two people “love smarter?”

We’ll Go Forward from this Moment by Leonard Pitts

The 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary winner pens a column chronicling the toughness of the American family’s spirit in the face of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks. He wrote the column one day after the attacks.

What’s Wrong with Black English? by Rachel L. Jones

Jones, a student at Southern Illinois University in the 1980s, wrote this piece for Newsweek. In her essay, Jones adds her story and perspective to the debate over Black English.

Related topics: Mentor Texts , Teaching Writing

About the author

Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

I am a secondary English Language Arts teacher, a University of Oklahoma student working on my doctorate in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum with an concentration in English Education and co-Editor of the Oklahoma English Journal. I am constantly seeking ways to amplify students' voices and choices.

A wonderful list of essays! I have neglected to teach essays as literature (only as student writing samples before we began work on an essay, after a novel). I’m looking forward to using these!

Thank you very much! I’d love to hear (or read) your feedback on the selections. Your input can help other teachers decide which essays to teach their students.

This list looks really great. Unfortunately, the first two links I chose were not working. One took me to a professors homepage and the other never opened.

Thank you for letting us know. I checked the “If you think racism doesn’t exist” went to the WordPress.com site where the author wrote his article and “Letter from a Vietnamese to an Iraqi Refugee” went to the Huffington Post article. Is it possible that your school web filter is blocking WordPress and Huffington Post?

Thank you for this. I am teaching a summer class that prepares 8th graders for high school essay writing. Trying to find a way to make it more creative and interesting, even interactive. I like the essays. If you have ideas about specific ways to use them, beyond reading and discussion, I would love to hear them.

You’re welcome! I think additional activities would depend on who your students are, their interests, and which essay(s) you plan to use. Perhaps if you join our RTE Facebook group and tell us about your kids and the essay you want to use, we can devise some activities to help them engage. Check us out here .

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Reading Comprehension Resources for EFL and ESL Learners

Reading materials: reading comprehension texts for english langauge learners, reading comprehension for english language learners: all the topics, biographies, culture and history, the environment, holidays and celebrations, organizations, science and technology.

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English Texts for Beginners

English texts for beginners to practice reading and comprehension online and for free. Practicing your comprehension of written English will both improve your vocabulary and understanding of grammar and word order. The texts below are designed to help you develop while giving you an instant evaluation of your progress.

Prepared by experienced English teachers, the texts, articles and conversations are brief and appropriate to your level of proficiency. Take the multiple-choice quiz following each text, and you'll get the results immediately. You will feel both challenged and accomplished! You can even download (as PDF) and print the texts and exercises. It's enjoyable, fun and free. Good luck!

Wedding Wishes PREMIUM ? »
Countries and Nationalities PREMIUM My workday starts at seven. ? »

Essay Writing: A complete guide for students and teachers

P LANNING, PARAGRAPHING AND POLISHING: FINE-TUNING THE PERFECT ESSAY

Essay writing is an essential skill for every student. Whether writing a particular academic essay (such as persuasive, narrative, descriptive, or expository) or a timed exam essay, the key to getting good at writing is to write. Creating opportunities for our students to engage in extended writing activities will go a long way to helping them improve their skills as scribes.

But, putting the hours in alone will not be enough to attain the highest levels in essay writing. Practice must be meaningful. Once students have a broad overview of how to structure the various types of essays, they are ready to narrow in on the minor details that will enable them to fine-tune their work as a lean vehicle of their thoughts and ideas.

In this article, we will drill down to some aspects that will assist students in taking their essay writing skills up a notch. Many ideas and activities can be integrated into broader lesson plans based on essay writing. Often, though, they will work effectively in isolation – just as athletes isolate physical movements to drill that are relevant to their sport. When these movements become second nature, they can be repeated naturally in the context of the game or in our case, the writing of the essay.

THE ULTIMATE NONFICTION WRITING TEACHING RESOURCE

essay writing | nonfiction writing unit | Essay Writing: A complete guide for students and teachers | literacyideas.com

270 pages of the most effective teaching strategies
50+ digital tools ready right out of the box
75 editable resources for student differentiation
Loads of tricks and tips to add to your teaching tool bag
All explanations are reinforced with concrete examples.
Links to high-quality video tutorials
Clear objectives easy to match to the demands of your curriculum

Planning an essay

essay writing | how to prepare for an essay | Essay Writing: A complete guide for students and teachers | literacyideas.com

The Boys Scouts’ motto is famously ‘Be Prepared’. It’s a solid motto that can be applied to most aspects of life; essay writing is no different. Given the purpose of an essay is generally to present a logical and reasoned argument, investing time in organising arguments, ideas, and structure would seem to be time well spent.

Given that essays can take a wide range of forms and that we all have our own individual approaches to writing, it stands to reason that there will be no single best approach to the planning stage of essay writing. That said, there are several helpful hints and techniques we can share with our students to help them wrestle their ideas into a writable form. Let’s take a look at a few of the best of these:

BREAK THE QUESTION DOWN: UNDERSTAND YOUR ESSAY TOPIC.

Whether students are tackling an assignment that you have set for them in class or responding to an essay prompt in an exam situation, they should get into the habit of analyzing the nature of the task. To do this, they should unravel the question’s meaning or prompt. Students can practice this in class by responding to various essay titles, questions, and prompts, thereby gaining valuable experience breaking these down.

Have students work in groups to underline and dissect the keywords and phrases and discuss what exactly is being asked of them in the task. Are they being asked to discuss, describe, persuade, or explain? Understanding the exact nature of the task is crucial before going any further in the planning process, never mind the writing process .

BRAINSTORM AND MIND MAP WHAT YOU KNOW:

Once students have understood what the essay task asks them, they should consider what they know about the topic and, often, how they feel about it. When teaching essay writing, we so often emphasize that it is about expressing our opinions on things, but for our younger students what they think about something isn’t always obvious, even to themselves.

Brainstorming and mind-mapping what they know about a topic offers them an opportunity to uncover not just what they already know about a topic, but also gives them a chance to reveal to themselves what they think about the topic. This will help guide them in structuring their research and, later, the essay they will write . When writing an essay in an exam context, this may be the only ‘research’ the student can undertake before the writing, so practicing this will be even more important.

RESEARCH YOUR ESSAY

The previous step above should reveal to students the general direction their research will take. With the ubiquitousness of the internet, gone are the days of students relying on a single well-thumbed encyclopaedia from the school library as their sole authoritative source in their essay. If anything, the real problem for our students today is narrowing down their sources to a manageable number. Students should use the information from the previous step to help here. At this stage, it is important that they:

● Ensure the research material is directly relevant to the essay task

● Record in detail the sources of the information that they will use in their essay

● Engage with the material personally by asking questions and challenging their own biases

● Identify the key points that will be made in their essay

● Group ideas, counterarguments, and opinions together

● Identify the overarching argument they will make in their own essay.

Once these stages have been completed the student is ready to organise their points into a logical order.

WRITING YOUR ESSAY

There are a number of ways for students to organize their points in preparation for writing. They can use graphic organizers , post-it notes, or any number of available writing apps. The important thing for them to consider here is that their points should follow a logical progression. This progression of their argument will be expressed in the form of body paragraphs that will inform the structure of their finished essay.

The number of paragraphs contained in an essay will depend on a number of factors such as word limits, time limits, the complexity of the question etc. Regardless of the essay’s length, students should ensure their essay follows the Rule of Three in that every essay they write contains an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Generally speaking, essay paragraphs will focus on one main idea that is usually expressed in a topic sentence that is followed by a series of supporting sentences that bolster that main idea. The first and final sentences are of the most significance here with the first sentence of a paragraph making the point to the reader and the final sentence of the paragraph making the overall relevance to the essay’s argument crystal clear.

Though students will most likely be familiar with the broad generic structure of essays, it is worth investing time to ensure they have a clear conception of how each part of the essay works, that is, of the exact nature of the task it performs. Let’s review:

Common Essay Structure

Introduction: Provides the reader with context for the essay. It states the broad argument that the essay will make and informs the reader of the writer’s general perspective and approach to the question.

Body Paragraphs: These are the ‘meat’ of the essay and lay out the argument stated in the introduction point by point with supporting evidence.

Conclusion: Usually, the conclusion will restate the central argument while summarising the essay’s main supporting reasons before linking everything back to the original question.

ESSAY WRITING PARAGRAPH WRITING TIPS

essay writing | 1 How to write paragraphs | Essay Writing: A complete guide for students and teachers | literacyideas.com

● Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea

● Paragraphs should follow a logical sequence; students should group similar ideas together to avoid incoherence

● Paragraphs should be denoted consistently; students should choose either to indent or skip a line

● Transition words and phrases such as alternatively , consequently , in contrast should be used to give flow and provide a bridge between paragraphs.

HOW TO EDIT AN ESSAY

essay writing | essay editing tips | Essay Writing: A complete guide for students and teachers | literacyideas.com

Students shouldn’t expect their essays to emerge from the writing process perfectly formed. Except in exam situations and the like, thorough editing is an essential aspect in the writing process.

Often, students struggle with this aspect of the process the most. After spending hours of effort on planning, research, and writing the first draft, students can be reluctant to go back over the same terrain they have so recently travelled. It is important at this point to give them some helpful guidelines to help them to know what to look out for. The following tips will provide just such help:

One Piece at a Time: There is a lot to look out for in the editing process and often students overlook aspects as they try to juggle too many balls during the process. One effective strategy to combat this is for students to perform a number of rounds of editing with each focusing on a different aspect. For example, the first round could focus on content, the second round on looking out for word repetition (use a thesaurus to help here), with the third attending to spelling and grammar.

Sum It Up: When reviewing the paragraphs they have written, a good starting point is for students to read each paragraph and attempt to sum up its main point in a single line. If this is not possible, their readers will most likely have difficulty following their train of thought too and the paragraph needs to be overhauled.

Let It Breathe: When possible, encourage students to allow some time for their essay to ‘breathe’ before returning to it for editing purposes. This may require some skilful time management on the part of the student, for example, a student rush-writing the night before the deadline does not lend itself to effective editing. Fresh eyes are one of the sharpest tools in the writer’s toolbox.

Read It Aloud: This time-tested editing method is a great way for students to identify mistakes and typos in their work. We tend to read things more slowly when reading aloud giving us the time to spot errors. Also, when we read silently our minds can often fill in the gaps or gloss over the mistakes that will become apparent when we read out loud.

Phone a Friend: Peer editing is another great way to identify errors that our brains may miss when reading our own work. Encourage students to partner up for a little ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours’.

Use Tech Tools: We need to ensure our students have the mental tools to edit their own work and for this they will need a good grasp of English grammar and punctuation. However, there are also a wealth of tech tools such as spellcheck and grammar checks that can offer a great once-over option to catch anything students may have missed in earlier editing rounds.

essay writing | Perfect essay writing for students | Essay Writing: A complete guide for students and teachers | literacyideas.com

Putting the Jewels on Display: While some struggle to edit, others struggle to let go. There comes a point when it is time for students to release their work to the reader. They must learn to relinquish control after the creation is complete. This will be much easier to achieve if the student feels that they have done everything in their control to ensure their essay is representative of the best of their abilities and if they have followed the advice here, they should be confident they have done so.

WRITING CHECKLISTS FOR ALL TEXT TYPES

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ESSAY WRITING video tutorials

essay writing | essay writing tutorial28129 | Essay Writing: A complete guide for students and teachers | literacyideas.com

Advanced English reading

From linguapress ~ levels b2 - c1 - c2.

English grammar
Advanced reading
Intermediate reading
Language games and puzzles

Thematic index:

NEW ► Article with audio podcast . ► A short guide to phonetics - the sounds of British English
For lots of ideas for using reading resources in the classroom see Reading Comprehension
To select articles by classroom activity, see ► Thematic exercise and classroom activity index .

1. Reading comprehension - articles on life and issues in North America

Life in america .

NEW ► The US Presidential elections '24 - with audio
NEW ► The decline of WASP America - from Kennedy to Trump . The USA has changed massively since the time of Kennedy
► Los Angeles - city on the brink - with audio
(UK / USA) From Magna Carta to American democracy President Biden says that US democracy is at risk; this text looks at the historic origins of the Anglo-Saxon democratic tradition
(Technical) audio The electric car revolution, realistic or optimistic? With interactive worksheet. Can the world really convert to electric vehicles by the middle of the century?
Mark Twain and the frogs of Calaveras County . With audio and interactive worksheet. A California festival is a tribute to Twain's famous short story.
The American way of eating . With audio and interactive worksheet. A short look at the origins of fast food.
Steaming on the Mississippi . With audio and interactive worksheet. The Mississippi's famous paddleboats.
Aeroponics . Agriculture for tomorrow's world. (Technical English)
Nevada and its Extraterrestrials . Have aliens from another planet really been seen near the township of Rachel ?
Log cabins and the White House . Now with audio Many US presidents have come from humble roots.
Gettysburg - the terrible battle . A dark page in US history - with four exercises and activities
Awaiting the Big One . Another massive earthquake could hit California very soon
The story of Ellis Island , With audio - The gateway to America through which millions once passed.
Skyscrapers Now found in cities worldwide, skyscrapers were once symbols of America.
Wall Street Culture - One could call it America's most popular street culture.
Thanksgiving With audio - a very American festival.
Mardi gras in New Orleans - the most colorful festival in the USA, by John Robillard
College sport USA - With audio Sport is part of US campus life, but at what cost?
Rodeo - the sport of the American West .
The Yukon Quest - The 1000 mile race that is the toughest race in the world..
And among new texts available only in the Linguapress paperback or hadcover collection ► A Background to America
Harriet Tubman and the Underground railroad - the lady whose face will soon be on the new $20 bill - With audio
The settling of the Cherokee Strip - how the West was opened - With audio
American and Chinese - the story of Chinese America - With audio

America : people and society

NEW Taylor Swift - the sensation of a generation With audio
NEW The Rosenberg affair and the legacy of McCarthyism in the USA
Thinking it over with baby . With audio and interactive worksheet. Being a teenager and a mom at the same time is usually not a good idea.
The Man who changed America . With audio Henry Ford did more than anyone else to shape 20th century life.
Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
Hillary Clinton - the early years . by Nicole Bernheim.
Citizen Welles - a short biography of Orson Welles, the greatest unsuccessful Holywood director.
Who killed Martin Luther King? With audio Mystery still surrounds the assassination of America's greatest civil rights leader.
Rosa Parks - With audio the young lady whose defiance helped start the Civil rights movement
So just who is Angelyne ? - the Hollywood celebrity who's famous just for being famous
America's Amish; model society? A look at some Americans with an unusual lifestyle
America's teen courts - Where teenage offenders are judged by other teens..
Crime-time Basketball - Midnight basketball aims to keep young people off the streets..
America's Drive-in Movie theaters - how much longer will they last?
Americans fat and thin - A third of Americans are seriously overweight.
The Mormons, a curiously American phenomenon . One of America's biggest fringe religions.

American music

NEW ► Taylor Swift - the sensation of a generation With audio
Woodie Guthrie . The Dustbowl baladeer.
The Story of the Blues - with audio - by Robert Springer
Interview with Leonard Cohen . A Linguapress exclusive.
Jewel, the voice from Alaska - the singing sensation from America's far north.
Mississippi music - - with audio Jazz, blues, soul, rock 'n' roll, and Elvis - they all originated in the Mississippi valley.
John Lennon - Remembering the death in New York of the Beatle who changed the world..

USA : places and environment

NEW ► Los Angeles - city on the brink - with audio
Highway 66 revisited -- with audio - A trip down America's legendary "Route 66"
Mighty Mississippi - With audio the river that links and divides the USA
Bodie - where the West was once wildest - Visiting a ghost town in the mountains of California.
America's bald eagles - a story of success . How the emblematic bird of the USA has been saved from extinction.
Save the Everglades - Florida's unique wetlands are in serious danger.
California's Water Wars - Larry Wood reports on a critical issue facing Californians.
Deserts of America - with audio - A large part of the western USA is covered by desert, and it is getting larger.
A town called Sturgis - Mecca for Harley Davidson riders.

International themes, language

NEW The electric car revolution, realistic or optimistic? With interactive worksheet. (technical English)
NEW A rose by any other name . - with audio - Words, meaning and political correctness
Accents and dialects . - with audio - An introduction to varieties of spoken English
Globalization? What globalization? It's here to stay, but changes are needed

2. Reading comprehension - articles on life and issues in the UK and Ireland

NEW King Charles, the Monarchy and their future Is there a future for the British monarchy?. with audio
NEW Guy Fawkes and bonfire night The nearest thing that Britain has to a National day celebration.
The Oxford and Cambridge boat race This great amateur sporting event is almost 200 years old.
Just who are the English ? Trying to define Englishness is not a very easy task.
Britain - at any cost ? Human traffickers are waiting to exploit people who want to come to the UK.
English pub signs What lies behind the sometimes strange names of English pubs ?
From smugglers to people trafficking: old activity, new phase - Smuggling has long been an illicit activity on England's south coast
Tea and the British - with audio - Tea has been Britain's favourite drink for more than two centuries
Life in Umbridge - Finding a place to live in rural Britain can be hard for ordinary folk.
London's Notting Hill Carnival - Europe's biggest street carnival
Britain's Chinese come out on top - they are the most successful group in modern Britain
All you need is Love -With audio A true story from Ireland, by Leanne Meyer
Nature / wildlife: the Bird Man of the Isles - an interview from the Scottish isle of Skye.

Britain : people

Charles Darwin - a genius remembered with audio and interactive worksheet. A scientific text for general readers.
Topical Queen Elizabeth II - 1926 - 2022 The Queen who almost wasn't with audio and interactive worksheet. Queen Elibath II was not born to be Queen...
Agatha Christie - She died in 1976, but she's still a worldwide bestseller.
Stephen Hawking - the world's greatest scientist - who died in 2018
J.R.R. Tolkien - the Oxford professor who wrote the Lord of the Rings
Shakespeare's enduring heritage With audio and interactive worksheet. Shakespeare died over 400 years ago, so why is he still so important ?
Drugs: Days in the death of Francis X - interview with a heroin addict
More resources coming

3. Technical English, short stories and word games

Technical english.

NEW The electric car revolution, realistic or optimistic? With interactive worksheet. Can the world really convert to electric vehicles by the middle of the century?
NEW Aeroponics . Agriculture for tomorrow's world.
Fox Talbot and the origins of photography , The first photo was taken in... 1835 !
GM crops: Frankenstein food? Are genetically modified crops a huge risk, or the future of agriculture?
Skiing in the wind How science and technology help skiers go faster
The story of the jet plane With audio
Charles Babbage, the father of the computer (short text).
Meet Robodog (hard):

Advanced English short stories and games

NEW A suitable job - by Lindsay Townsend. A short story from Britain
A few good reasons - by Sue Quinn. A short story from the USA with audio
For Elise - by Pamela Garza. A short story from the USA with audio
Short story: The Car - by Andrew Rossiter. A short story in advanced level English with audio
Short story: Blue Gum Tree - by Pat Boyle. A short story from New Zealand with audio
Short Story: Lucky Jim - by Walda Cameron. A short story from the USA. with NEW audio
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain (Appendix to Mark Twain and the frogs of Calaveras County )
Quiz: Famous Americans

4. The English language (information texts)

Accents and dialects - with audio different varieties of English
Word stress in English with audio how to know how to stress words correctly
A rose by any other name . - with audio - Words, meaning and political correctness
A short history of the English language from the Middle Ages to today

en français / in French

English for B2, C1 and C2 levels. Advanced English reading resources

Chess (Gr. 1-4)
TV (Gr. 1-4)
Metal Detectors (Gr. 2-6)
Tetris (Gr. 2-6)
Seat Belts (Gr. 2-6)
The Coliseum (Gr. 2-6)
The Pony Express (Gr. 2-6)
Wintertime (Gr. 2-6)
Reading (Gr. 3-7)
Black Friday (Gr. 3-7)
Hummingbirds (Gr. 3-7)
Worst Game Ever? (Gr. 4-8)
Carnivorous Plants (Gr. 4-8)
Google (Gr. 4-8)
Honey Badgers (Gr. 4-8)
Hyperinflation (Gr. 4-8)
Koko (Gr. 4-8)
Mongooses (Gr. 5-9)
Trampolines (Gr. 5-9)
Garbage (Gr. 5-9)
Maginot Line (Gr. 5-9)
Asian Carp (Gr. 5-9)
Tale of Two Countries (Gr. 6-10)
Kevlar (Gr. 7-10)
Tigers (Gr. 7-11)
Statue of Liberty (Gr. 8-10)
Submarines (Gr. 8-12)
Castles (Gr. 9-13)
Gutenberg (Gr. 9-13)
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Basic Plots of the Essay ( PDF )

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Painting of a rural street on a dark night featuring a two-storey white farmhouse, a red barn, powerlines, and a bright light in the centre.

Sleep and dreams

Spinning the night self

After years of insomnia, I threw off the effort to sleep and embraced the peculiar openness I found in the darkest hours

Annabel Abbs

Painting of two men sitting in a barn, one on a bench and the other on a chair, with a horse and pumpkins in the background.

History of ideas

Philosophy of the people

How two amateur schools pulled a generation of thinkers from the workers and teachers of the 19th-century American Midwest

Joseph M Keegin

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Nature and landscape

Laughing shores

Sailors, exiles, merchants and philosophers: how the ancient Greeks played with language to express a seaborne imagination

Giordano Lipari

A busy beach scene with children on donkeys, people in the sea, a man reading on a sun lounger, and a dog urinating on a sun shade.

Virtues and vices

Make it awkward!

Rather than being a cringey personal failing, awkwardness is a collective rupture – and a chance to rewrite the social script

Alexandra Plakias

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Metaphysics

Desperate remedies

In order to make headway on knotty metaphysical problems, philosophers should look to the methods used by scientists

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Citizens and spinning wheels

For Indians to be truly free, Gandhi argued they must take up traditional crafts. Was it a quixotic hope or inspired solution?

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For those who hear voices, the ‘broken brain’ explanation is harmful. Psychiatry must embrace new meaning-making frameworks

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C L R James and America

The brilliant Trinidadian thinker is remembered as an admirer of the US but he also warned of its dark political future

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The tide has turned – evidence shows ordinary citizens in the Western world are now richer and more equal than ever before

Daniel Waldenström

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The melting brain

It’s not just the planet and not just our health – the impact of a warming climate extends deep into our cortical fissures

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Falling for suburbia

Modernists and historians alike loathed the millions of new houses built in interwar Britain. But their owners loved them

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Rawls the redeemer

For John Rawls, liberalism was more than a political project: it is the best way to fashion a life that is worthy of happiness

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Jekyll and Hyde: A* Grade / L9 Essay Example (Tension and Mystery)

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Unit of work

Last updated

8 September 2024

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This is a student essay that was written outside of timed conditions. It received an A* grade at GCSE, for the AQA English Literature syllabus. Typos and grammatical errors have been left in, to show that even a top grade is achievable with minor errors.

Have a resource on us! Grab our FREE resource here: Jekyll and Hyde: Character Breakdown / Analysis

Buy our COMPLETE JEKYLL AND HYDE REVISION BUNDLE here!

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A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

A MEGA REVISION 'JEKYLL AND HYDE' BUNDLE! (Digital + Printable PDFs, PPTs and worksheets!)

This bundle contains everything you need to teach or study Stevenson's novella 'The Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' in the form of digital and printable PDF documents. It’s perfect for students aged 14+. **This bundle is currently available at a 50% discount! ** Preview this document for free, to check whether the whole bundle is right for you [Jekyll and Hyde: Character Breakdown / Analysis](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110830) With this bundle, students will be able to: * Understand the structural elements and key moments of the plot * Deepen their knowledge of characters, including understanding the deeper messages behind each one * Integrate the significance of the setting into their analyses and interpretations of the play as a whole * Memorise a range of carefully chosen key quotations for use in essays and analysis * Develop their language, structure and form analysis skills, with guided support and examples * Identify and analyse the thematic and contextual details * Learn approaches to a range of essay question types: discursive, argumentative, close reading * Become confident with extract interpretation and analysis * Develop their knowledge of tragic conventions and apply them to the novella * Expand their critical aptitude via exposure to key critical frameworks and critics’ quotations (for higher-level students) * Write their essays on Jekyll and Hyde, after support with planning help and example A* / top grade model answers Reasons to love this bundle: * Downloadable PDF documents, graphically designed to a high level, PowerPoints (ppts) and worksheets * Visual aids (photographs and drawings) to support learning * Organised categories that simplify the text for students * Print and digital versions - perfect for any learning environment * The unit has everything you need to start teaching or learning - starting with the basic story summary, going right up to deep contextual and critical wider readings * Lots of tasks and opportunities to practice literary analysis skills - students will be guided through writing a literary analysis response to the novella -This is what you’ll get with this bundle: (each document includes digital + printable revision guide + PowerPoint + worksheet)- THE COMPLETE JEKYLL AND HYDE COURSE: 1. [Character Analysis / Breakdown](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110830) 2. [Plot Summary / Breakdown](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110836) 3. [Context Analysis](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110842) 4. [Genre](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110856) 5. [Key Quotations](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110868) 6. [Narrative Voice](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110978) 7. [Setting](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110874) 8. [Themes](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110893) 9. [Critical Interpretation / Critics' Quotations](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110848) 10. [Essay Help](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110934) 11. [Essay Planning](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110950) 12. [PEE Paragraph Practise](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110997) 13. [Essay Practise (Gothic Atmosphere)](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110962) 14. [L9 / A* Grade vs L7 / A Grade Example Essays + Feedback (Frightening Outsider)](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110990) 15. [L9 / A* Grade Essay Example (Tension and Mystery)](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110904) 16. [L8 / A Grade Essay Example + Feedback (Unnatural and Threatening)](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110972) 17. [L6 / B Grade Essay Example + Feedback (Suspicious Atmosphere)](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110984) 18. [L4 / C Grade Essay Example (Secrecy and Reputation)](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110923) 19. [Study Questions / Exercises](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13110884) 20. [Essay Questions + Passage-based Questions](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13111001) Please review our content! We always value feedback and are looking for ways to improve our resources, so all reviews are more than welcome. Check out our [shop](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/Scrbbly) here.

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At this stage, it is important that they: Ensure the research material is directly relevant to the essay task. Record in detail the sources of the information that they will use in their essay. Engage with the material personally by asking questions and challenging their own biases.
Writing and Reading the Essay
Course Description. This is a course focused on the literary genre of the essay, that wide-ranging, elastic, and currently very popular form that attracts not only nonfiction writers but also fiction writers, poets, scientists, physicians, and others to write in the form, and readers of every stripe to read it. Some say we are living in ….
Advanced level English reading
Advanced English reading texts: while the majority of texts in this resource are at CEF levels C1, a few are harder (level C2) and a few are easier (level B2).All the texts in this collection are written in normal English; however in order to maximize their language teaching potential, most have been specifically written for students of English as a foreign or second language, or else for high ...
Reading Worksheets
Ereading Worksheets. Ereading Worksheets provides teachers, parents, and motivated students with high-quality reading worksheets, activities, and resources aligned with Common Core State Standards. This website uses a skill focused approach where each activity targets a specific skill set, but you can also browse the reading worksheets by grade ...
Study Materials
This section provides class handouts on essay writing. Browse Course Material Syllabus ... Writing and Reading the Essay. Menu. More Info Syllabus Calendar Readings ... Over 2,500 courses & materials Freely sharing knowledge with learners and educators around the world.
Jekyll and Hyde: A* Grade / L9 vs A Grade / L7 Example Essays
This is a massively in depth document that goes through everything you need to know to get absolutely top marks on exam papers, essays and coursework. ... close reading * Become confident with extract interpretation and analysis * Develop their knowledge of tragic conventions and apply them to the novella * Expand their critical aptitude via ...
Essays
Your body is an archive. If human knowledge can disappear so easily, why have so many cultural practices survived without written records? The latest and most popular Essays from Aeon. Longform articles on philosophy, psychology, science, society, history and the arts, written by the world's leading thinkers.
How Newly Identified Biomarkers Could Reveal Risk Factors for SIDS
Researchers at UC San Francisco are getting closer to being able to predict sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. In a study that appears Sept. 3 in JAMA Pediatrics, they identified signals in the metabolic system of infants who died of SIDS.. More research is needed, but this could one day help to prevent SIDS.
Redefining SecOps in the Era of AI
Making the Case for a Consolidated Platform Approach. Don't have a traditional security operations center yet still want similar outcomes? From continuous protection with uninterrupted monitoring to threat detection and prevention, having the ability to holistically organize and manage security operations is paramount for a healthy security posture.
Jekyll and Hyde: A* Grade / L9 Essay Example (Tension and Mystery)
This is a student essay that was written outside of timed conditions. ... close reading * Become confident with extract interpretation and analysis * Develop their knowledge of tragic conventions and apply them to the novella * Expand their critical aptitude via exposure to key critical frameworks and critics' quotations (for higher-level ...