As with any valuable skill, patience and persistence pays off. Top of Page Vary your reading speed By varying your reading speed, you can cover material more efficiently and with better comprehension. Because you have already skimmed the material, you already have a general idea of the structure and content of what you are reading. You have also narrowed down your topic, so you have a good idea of what you are looking for. It is not necessary to read a source from start to finish.
Scan headings to find relevant passages.
Slow down to focus carefully on the passages that are most important. Top of Page Take notes Taking notes helps you to read actively. Notes are also important as input to the next step in the research process, in which you integrate information from sources with your ideas. Write notes that help you navigate a source. For example, put asterisks next to important headings in the table of contents.