K+and+H+Active+reading+techniques

In this unit students will be introduced to critical reading techniques that are used in Advanced Placement and Pre-AP classes. As students continue their education they will encounter more complex texts and reading assignments that require them to extract maximum meaning from their reading. ‘Critical reading’ or ‘close reading’ equals active reading. Active reading means learning to annotate, reflect on what you read, to pick out main ideas, to paraphrase important passages and to develop personal responses to prepare for writing or discussion based on what you have read.
 * ACTIVE/CRITICAL **** READING **** ASSIGNMENTS **

Ways to read actively include: (See visual examples below)
 * 1) ** OUTLINING ** : > This is how your textbook is set up. Summarize the reading in a skeletal format. The main idea is indicated by a Roman numberal. Next are the supporting ideas represented by capital letters indented below the Roman numerals. Examples/details are represented as numbers indented below the capital letters. You should not list an A unless you have at least a B to follow, etc….
 * 2) ** MODIFIED CORNELL NOTE TAKING ** : Draw 2 columns but make the 1st column cover 1/3 of your paper. This is the section for recall – list important terms, concepts from note taking in the recall section as you take notes in the larger column. Summarize your notes at the end of the page
 * 3) ** MAIN IDEAS DOUBLE COLUMN NOTES ** : Divide your paper into 2 columns. Write your main ideas on the left, record the details of your reading under each main idea. In the right column, develop main idea statements to summarize the details of what you read.
 * 4) ** CONCEPT CARDS ** : Identify major issue, events, places and summarize their significance.
 * 5) ** GRAPHIC ORGANIZER ** : Categorize and organize your reading material into a meaningful format that is useful for analysis. Below is just one example of how to set up a graphic organizer.

Additional notetaking/study methods >


 * //COLOR CODED NOTES//**//: This is an additional suggestion from a former AP student. As you take notes, color code countries, concepts or topics as they come up. For instance, with SEP, social might always be blue, economic/green, political/red. Keep the same colors all semester to help you see patterns between regions. People learn in color, use it to your advantage.//


 * ACRONYMS:** //Use social studies acronyms like SEP (social/economic/political), ESPN (same as SEP but add eNvironment to the list) to categorize your note taking on a region or topic.//