5 Effective Strategies to Improve Comprehension of Informational Text

Introduction

Reading is an essential life skill that we use every day. However, not everyone can comprehend and retain information from reading effectively. This problem is particularly acute when reading informational text such as news articles, reports, or textbooks. In this blog article, we will discuss five effective strategies to improve comprehension of informational text, which will help readers gain confidence, learn more, and enjoy reading.

Strategy 1: Preview the Text

Before reading the text, take a few minutes to preview it. Start with the title, subheadings, and any pictures or charts. These elements provide clues to the purpose, content, and structure of the text. Then, skim the first and last paragraphs to understand the introduction and conclusion. Finally, identify any unfamiliar terms or concepts you may encounter and try to recall what you already know about the topic.

Strategy 2: Question the Text

While reading the text, ask yourself questions to keep your mind engaged and focused. Questions can range from factual ones such as “What happened next?” to analytical ones such as “Why did the author use this example?” or “What is the main idea of this paragraph?” You can also ask yourself personal or critical questions such as “What do I think about this?” or “What evidence supports this claim?”

Strategy 3: Connect the Text

To make sense of the text, connect it to your prior knowledge and experiences. Ask yourself how the text relates to your life, work, or interests. Look for similarities and differences between the text and what you already know. Make mental or written notes to connect new ideas or concepts to old ones. This process will help you build a mental model of the text and remember it better.

Strategy 4: Visualize the Text

Another powerful strategy is to visualize the text. Create mental pictures of the characters, settings, events, or ideas the text describes. Use your imagination to fill in details or gaps in the text. Visualize how the text would look like as a movie, a diagram, or a chart. Drawing sketches or diagrams can also help you remember and understand the text.

Strategy 5: Summarize the Text

After reading the text, summarize its main ideas and key details in your own words. Writing a summary forces you to synthesize the information and recall it from memory. Use headings, bullet points, or mind maps to organize your summary. Share your summary with others and compare it to theirs to identify any gaps or misunderstandings. Summarizing also helps you evaluate the text’s relevance, accuracy, and credibility.

Conclusion

Comprehending informational text requires active and strategic reading. By previewing, questioning, connecting, visualizing, and summarizing the text, readers can enhance their comprehension, retention, and enjoyment of reading. These strategies also apply to other reading contexts, such as academic, professional, or personal reading. Practicing these strategies regularly can boost your reading skills and help you become a lifelong learner.