7. Getting the Most Out of Academic Texts-UPDATED ON 27 August 2013

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF ACADEMIC TEXTS

Objectives

When you have finished section, you will be able to

§  read academic texts using the strategies SQ4R and Annotation;

§  understand the contents, organisation and author’s stand of Reading Articles Set 1;

§  apply these strategies to an academic text related to your major .

Resource List Please browse through these websites Week 3 Tutorial 2. Objective: Find out the reading techniques that suit you and how to write annotations.

1)     SQ4R: A Classic Method for Studying Texts:

 http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/assistance/learning_services/handouts/SQ4R.cfm

2)      Strategic Reading - YouTube:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbMlIPgqXB8

3)      Annotating While Reading:     

 http://learners.ncu.edu/writingprogram/writing_center.aspx?menu_id=82

4)      A Simple Guide to Annotation (PDF):

 Study Strategies: A Simple Guide to Text Annotation

5)      Reading Articles Set 1 (UPDATED on 27 August 2013):

        Please read Article A before Week 3 Tutorial 2
 

a)  Chanda, N. (2008). Runaway globalization without governance. In Yale Global

              Online academic papers: Global governance. Retrieved from 

      http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/runawayGlobalization.pdf

        b)  Chandra, N. (2008). The Double Edge of Globalization. In Yale Global Online

              Magazine, 28 June 2007. Retrieved from:  
              http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/double-edge-globalization

 

        c)  Hickman, M. The Effects of Media Globalization. Retrieved from:

http://www.radford.edu/~mahickman/portfolio/The%20Effects%20of%20Media%20Globalization.doc

                    

        d)  Kohut, A., & Wike, R. (2008). Assessing globalization: Benefits and drawbacks of

trade and integration. Harvard International Review, 30(1), 70. Retrieved from:  http://www.pewglobal.org/2008/06/24/assessing-globalization/

       e)  Kraidy, M. (2002). Globalization of Culture Through the Media. Annneberg School

Of Communication: Departmental Papers    

             http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1333&context=asc_papers

          

f)   The Globalization Index (2007 November/December). Foreign Policy, (163), 68-76.

             Retrieved from:

http://search.proquest.com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/docview/224027485/fulltextPDF/13F46C1AD22549D657F/18?accountid=13876

Key Concepts

§  SQ4R: survey, question, read, recite/respond, relate/record, review

• Annotation: annotate, thesis, supporting points, key ideas, organisation, stand/opinion

Procedure

A.    Before Class

1.    Survey websites 1 to 5 in the Resource List.

2.    Jot down the steps for (a) SQ4R and (b) Annotation in preparation for Task A.

3.    Download the Reading Articles Set 1 (soft or hard copies).

4.    Read Article a, “Runaway globalization without governance,” and determine the

        thesis (or main idea) of the article. Jot down the thesis in one to two sentences in

        your own words.

B.    In Class

1.    Complete Tasks A, B & C.

2.    Be prepared to share your answers with a partner, a small group or the entire class.

C.     After Class

1.     Apply SQ4R and/or Annotation to an academic text related to your major.

2.    Do a search of other strategies for reading academic texts and be prepared to share

        them with your class in the next tutorial.

Tasks

A.    Discussion

1.    With a partner, compare your list (a), steps for SQ4R.

2.    What are some similarities and differences you find in the resources on the 4Rs?

3.    Which of these differing Rs work better for your learning style or major – recite &

        respond (from the first website) or relate & record (from the second)?

4.    Compare your list (b), steps for Annotation, with your partner’s.

5.    What are some similarities and differences you find in the resources for Annotation?

6.    Which of the differing approaches work better for you?

7.    If time permits, share your answers with another pair or a small group.

B.    Demonstration and response

1.    Listen to your tutor’s short demonstration on using (a) SQ4R on Madrid 1995:

        “Diagnosing Climate Change” and (b) Annotation on, “Runaway Globalization

        Without Governance.”

2.    As a class, discuss your response to these worked examples. Which strategy

        works better for your learning style or major? How would you vary or combine

        the strategies?

C.    Reading and application

1.    With a partner, choose one article each, b or c from Reading Articles Set 1.

2.    Decide on the strategy you prefer; you may combine the strategies in your approach.

3.    In about 30 minutes, get the most out of your reading using the approach you have

        chosen. Focus on the contents, organisation and author’s stand. Look out for thesis,

        supporting points, key ideas, relationship between paragraphs/sections,

        development of the text, etc.

4.    Share what you learnt about your chosen article with your partner before the end of

        class. Make notes of what your partner shares with you about their chosen article.

        These notes will come in useful later in the module.