The Reading Purpose

THE PURPOSEFOR

READING

JESSA A. DUAMAN

WHAT DO YOU READ ?

•Novels• Biographies •Poetry •Song lyrics •CD liner notes •Newspapers •Magazines •Brochures •Maps•Lists

•Recipes• Instructions •Letters •Blogs•Emails•Product •comparisons•Facebook •Plans •Receipts •Other?

Why? Any reading is usually done for a specific purpose. Think of three things you’ve read recently. Why did you read them?

To learn more about a subject of interest ?

To follow upwith a favorite character?

To find out about a current event ?

To get information you’ll need to plan a trip?

To keep up with a friends?

To critique the writing of another author?

To just have fun?

Reading is a purposeful act.

Knowing your purpose for reading helps you to choose how to approach reading the text.

If you’d like to know..whether that new restaurant is affordable, you’ll probably first look at the prices, then see if you recognize the names of the dishes on the menu.

If you’re settling down…

with the next book in your favorite series, you’ll likely find out where the story picks up again, and predict what the character will do next.

If you’re curious..about the artist who created a song you like, you’ll probably skim through their bio to look for musical influences and background.

If you’re trying to decide…which new video game to buy, you may skip directly to customer reviews and compare product specifications.

We use different strategies depending on our purpose for

reading.

But what if…...We’re reading something

someone else told us to read?

Let’s think about that…

What are you expected to do with this information after you’ve read it?

Will you need to…• Understand it?

•Retell it? •Answer questions about it? •Use it to solve a problem? •Develop an opinion about it?

You can think about what you already know and connect similar experiences you’ve had to those you’re reading about… So, it’s like when I learned to play football…

and you can ask yourself questions. …I wonder if he’ll be excited or scared about his first game?

Share your understandings with another person.

You can scan and skip to the relevant information.

You can skim to get the overall gist.

You can re-read to confirm understanding.

Identify your purpose…Such as… Reading for understanding Reading to evaluate criticallyReading for practical applicationReading for pleasure

JESSA A. DUAMAN