Reading is an active process, one in which the reader must construct the author s argument, and then assess it. Skim through the chapter and note the headings and subheadings to get an overview of the chapter s focus. Turn the headings into questions to derive an idea of what to look for in the section. It may help to first read the section s initial and closing paragraphs.
Key sentences tend to be the first, second or last sentences of the paragraph.
Don t sweat the details on the first reading. Move quickly from key sentence to key sentence. Only then, mark only the most salient passages for subsequent review. Write a brief paraphrase of the author s main argument in the chapter. Reviewing the chapter and identifying the main themes helps to put its details into context.