This document provides guidance on academic reading strategies such as creating a glossary of key terms, annotating texts, using different colored highlighters purposefully, and reading strategically for assignments. It discusses scaffolds for reading like noting key concepts, personal responses, and implications. Concept maps are classified into chains, spokes, and networks. Graphic organizers illustrated include spider maps, series of events chains, fishbone maps, and network trees. Tips for online reading address text size, scrolling, making notes, ergonomics, and optional ideas like printing parts to read or copying quotes into a Word document.

1. Academic Strategies I June 29, 2011 Trisha Poole TESOL Course Coordinator

3. Concept maps

4. Graphic organisers

7. Use pencil to mark significant parts of the text and annotate in the margins

8. Different coloured highlighters can be helpful – ensure the colours are purposeful and not too complex!

10. Concept Maps “Chain – a linear sequence of understanding in which each concept is only linked to those immediately above and below. Spoke –a radial structure in which all the related aspects of the topic are linked directly to the core concept but are not directly linked to each other. Net - a highly integrated and hierarchical network demonstrating a deep understanding of the topic.” Figure 1: Concept map structures can be classified by one of three categories: Chains, Spokes and Network Structures. Kinchin et al. (2000), cited in Hay, B.H., & Kinchin, I.M., (2006)

11. Graphic Organisers Spider Map To central idea plus supporting information Series of Events Chain To show a linear process or sequence

12. Graphic Organisers Fishbone Map To show causal interactions Network Tree To show causal information, hierarchies, branching processes

13. Reading Online Text size Increase or decrease text size so there is enough on the screen at a size which doesn’t make you squint! Scrolling Use the scroll function on your mouse to move down the page or the page down button. Making notes Use track changes to make notes

15. Copy and paste quotes into a Word document with a clear referencing

16. Adobe Acrobat (reader and writer) has PDF notes function also