General Reading Techniques

In college, you will come across various types of readings, whether it's history, science, psychology, English literature, or any other subject.  You need to have a set of techniques to approach your reading, but you also need to be flexible-minded enough to adjust to various types of readings.  You should at least start with a set of techniques and adjust as you approach different readings.  Here's a set of reading techniques for you to start with:

http://SpirFit.org/CUNY/Downloads/GeneralReadingTechniques/ReadingTechniquesToMaximizeReadingComprehension4.pdf

 I strongly recommend that you print it out and have it with you as you approach different readings throughout your college years.  Feel free to revise or add to this set of strategies according to your individuality (to make it work better for you).  Remember, the purpose is to read with in-depth understanding (and if you could do that in less time, that's even better.)


Copyright: © 2011, This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this article for your web site, blog, or e-zine if and only if you include the following statement and web links-

More teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at:

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ESL Exercise: Common Expression 7

Megan will start her new job ____  December 10^th.

A.     A.  in

B.     B.  to

C.     C.  at

D.     D. on

Scroll down for the correct answer

Choice D is the correct answer.

Megan will start her new job on December 10^th.

It’s a waste of time to try to rationalize why choice D is the correct answer. For fluent English speakers, we just immediately know the correct one because we’ve heard it a million times. We don't pause for two minutes trying to rationalize why we choose the words “on December 10th" or why we choose the preposition “on” before the date in such a case. The best way for you to learn this is to see or hear it a million times.  Okay, maybe not that many times.  Here are some examples of sentences using “on December 10th”, or using the preposition “on” before a date.

“On April 20, Vanderbilt sent an email to announce that Festus Ezeli, John Jenkins, and Jeffrey Taylor would be back in school…”  (Athlon Sports)  http://www.athlonsports.com/college-basketball/vanderbilt-commodores-2011-college-basketball-preview

“Miami’s last win also took place at the Meadowlands in upset fashion, an ugly 10-6 decision over the rival New York Jets on December 12 of last season.”    (Scott Garbarini, Sports Network) http://www.kansascity.com/2011/10/27/3232018/nfl-preview-miami-0-6-at-ny-giants.html

“On August 24, 2011, the company also purchased from the U.S. Treasury the 10-year warrant, issued on December 19, 2008…”  (Market Watch)

 http://www.marketwatch.com/story/first-california-continues-earnings-momentum-with-2011-third-quarter-net-income-of-25-million-2011-10-27?reflink=MW_news_stmp

“It was way back on September 16 that people started searching for OWS.”  (Celeste Katz, Daily News)  http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/10/occupy-wall-street-v-tea-party-the-metrics

“On September 30, 2011, the Company was in the process of drilling seven gross operated wells and had 21 gross operated wells waiting on completion in the Bakken and Three Forks formations.”  (Market Watch)   http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oasis-petroleum-inc-provides-preliminary-third-quarter-2011-results-and-an-update-to-financial-guidance-2011-10-27

“Participating players will be invited to a special Welcome Party on December 9^th.”  (Titanpoker.com) 

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/27/4011012/titan-poker-launches-1000000-ipops.html

Needless to say, you may also use “on” for any dates:

-          on June 3

-          on April 15

-          on July 4, 2011

-          on November 1, 1928

Feel free to choose the “Subscribe” options near the upper right side of this page. It’s free.

Copyright: © 2011. This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this article for free on your web site, blog, or other publication if and only if you include this entire copyright notice including the following links and statement. Other free teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at CUNY.SpirFit.com and SpirFit.org

Keywords:  TOEFL, ESL exercises, English, grammar, phrase, common expression, CUNY, Kingsborough, Hunter, Baruch, CCNY, Queensborough, Brooklyn College, BMCC

Improve Reading By Annotating: The Smart Transfer

Here’s a demonstration of how you should read, annotate, and summarize an article.  The original article can be found at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/education/edlife/22merrow-profile-4.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=junior%20collegetransfer%20University%20of%20California&st=cse&oref=slogin

To help me better understand and remember the reading, I annotated this article at:

http://www.spirfit.org/CUNY/Downloads/SmartTransferArticle/TheSmartTransfer_Annotated3.pdf

Notice on my annotated copy that I also wrote down the main idea, attitude, and tone of the author after reading the article. 

Using my annotations, I wrote my summary as shown at:

http://www.spirfit.org/CUNY/Downloads/SmartTransferArticle/SmartTransferSummary.pdf

In CUNY English classes, knowing how to annotate (including writing the main idea, attitude, and tone of the author in a sentence each) and to summarize (as shown in the above samples) will help you do well in the reading exams.  It will also help you partially with the writing exams (as most of the writing exams involve writing in response to a reading.)  Understanding the reading well will get you half way on the road to doing well.

If you are my student, I recommend that you print out the above sample annotated copy of "The Smart Transfer" and my summary. This will help you remember how to do the same (or do something similar) for reading assignments and writing assignments about the readings (commonly given by CUNY professors).

 

Copyright: © 2011. This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this article for free on your web site, blog, or other publication if and only if you include this entire copyright notice including the following links and statement. Other free teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at SpirFit.org/Academics and CUNY.SpirFit.com

Steve Jobs Passed Away; His Work and Lesson

Steve Jobs died from complications of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday at the age of 56. The world has lost a great visionary. More info and his lesson at- 

http://life.SpirFit.com/2011/10/steve-jobs-passed-away-his-work-and.html

Whether you're a Mac or PC user, iPhone or other smartphone user, iPad or Kindle user, iPod Touch, or a user of other devices, your life has been changed by Steve Jobs.  The Macintosh influenced PC's.  The iPhone influenced all smart phones.  The iPod influenced all portable music players.  However, Steve Jobs most important influence was a talk he gave at Stanford as I've posted in the past.  You can find it from the link above.