Academic Reading

1. Academic Reading Dr. Mosheer Amer 2014

2. Course Objectives • To advance independent, proficient readers through a systematic approach to the reading process. • To develop and master reading comprehension and vocabulary expansion skills and strategies (skimming, scanning, inferring, determining writer’s main idea and argument, etc.) • To read extensively from many books and texts to improve reading fluency, increase comprehension and expand vocabulary. • To practice reading and responding to reading tasks related to Palestinian issues and Arab and Islamic culture.

3. Course Assessment Course grades will be determined roughly according to the following distribution: Final Exam ----------------------------------- 45% Midterm Exam ------------------------------- 15% 6 Quizzes (only Five will be graded) ----- 20 % 6 Assignments (on Moodle) ---------------- 15 % Reading Log ----------------------------------- 5% • Bonus ----------------------------------------- 5%

4. My expectations of YOU • Attend all classes • Participate in discussion • Do all required textbook readings • Do all required textbook exercises • Do all your assignments on Moodle • Give Presentations • use MOODLE www.moodle.iugaza.edu.ps

5. What is reading? • It is one of the most important life skills and is very necessary to succeed in university. • Reading is the knowledge process of getting meaning from written or printed text. • Reading is a means of communication and of sharing information and ideas. Like all language, it is a complex interaction between the text and the reader. • Remember that reading in English is like reading in your native language. It is not always necessary to read and understand each and every word in English.

6. The Purpose of Reading • Why are you reading a text? • To acquire / enhance knowledge • For mental development • To improve conversational skills • To develop vocabulary and language skills • To enjoy learning about other people’s experiences, stories, information, etc.

7. What is the main idea? 1.  There are several events that can change the Earth's surface very quickly. Volcanoes can erupt and spread lava, rock and ash for several miles.  Earthquakes can leave large cracks in the Earth's surface. What is the main idea? • Several events can change the Earth's surface. • Earthquakes can cause large cracks.  • Volcanoes can be dangerous.

8. What is the main idea? Sharks have a keen sense of hearing and can smell blood from almost 2,000 yards away. Sharks also have a special system of channels in their skin that helps them feel the vibrations of a splashing swimmer. We know that in clear water, sharks can see dinner from about 50 feet away. If you ever spot a shark, always swim away smoothly! • How well sharks hear • Why sharks have poor vision • How sharks sense food • If you see sharks, try to swim away smoothly

9. What are the supporting details? Which of these three statements is the main idea? Which statements are supporting details? • Inactive people lose nearly one pound of muscle each year after age 30. • People who do not exercise regularly after age 30 suffer the consequences. • After age 30, inactive people lose about 5 percent of their strength every decade.

10. Complete the paragraph with the appropriate sentence: Influenza develops after the virus enters a person's nose or mouth. It causes muscle pain, sudden high body temperature, breathing problems and weakness. _______________, but it can be very dangerous. It is especially dangerous to the very young, the very old and those with weakened defences against disease. • The virus stopped spreading completely after the treatment • Generally, most people feel better after a week or two • Then, they changed the temperature and humidity levels • But they did not really know why until recently

11. What is the irrelevant sentence? There is an old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away and helps losing weight." (2) In fact, studies have shown that a number of components in apples help the body to fight many diseases. (3) Apples are also a source of dietary fiber which helps digestion and promotes weight loss. (4) Blackberries and apples are traditionally used for making pies. (5) Unlike other snacks such as biscuits, raw apples contain almost zero fat and cholesterol. 1 2 3 4 5

12. 1. Lakes occupy less than two percent of the Earth’s surface, yet they help sustain life. For instance, lakes give us fish to eat, irrigate crops, and generate electrical power. What does the word sustain mean? a. support b. obstruct c. prolong d. destroy 2. For many people today, it’s difficult to imagine life without a mobile phone. Once the preserve of the rich, they have now become an indispensable part of modern day life. • negative b. nice c. important d. common 3. Religions in America are not static, but changing, especially in this period of shifting values. a. continuous b. old c. nonstop d. fixed

13. 4. My friend Julie is a great procrastinator. She habitually postpones doing things, from household chores to homework. 5. Despite the proximityof Ron’s house to his sister’s he rarely sees her. 6. A former employee, irate over having been fired, broke into the plant and deliberately destroyed several machines. 7. He was born to a family that possessed great wealth, but he died in indigence.

14. [since – furthermore – meanwhile – consequently – even though – indeed ] 1. Computer chess games are getting cheaper all the time; ___________, their image and sound qualities are constantly getting better. 2. I have been under a lot of pressure lately; ______, I'm in a bad mood. 3. I cook beef and other types of meat for my wife ____________ I am a vegetarian. 4. He appreciated your donation; ____________ he mentioned it publicly as a sign of gratitude. 5. The technicians tuned the guitars and prepared the microphones. _____________, the musicians prepared themselves backstage.

15. How can I become an effective reader? Reading Strategies 1. Previewing the text 2. Skimming 3. Scanning 4. Inferring (guessing words from context) 5. Intensive reading 6. Extensive Reading

16. 1. Previewing • Previewing is a pre-reading skill by which the reader tries to gather as much information about the text as he/she can before reading it to have a general picture of the text. • Look at the title of the text. Try to find out what the writer(s) wants to tell you. • Look at the photos, illustrations, and other graphics in a text before you read. This will give you a visual idea of what the text is about. • Read boldface headings and words in boldfaced type. • Read the first sentence or paragraph of a text because the writer(s) generally states the main idea of the text in the first sentence or paragraph.

17. 2. Skimming • Skimming is a quick reading to get the gist/main ideas of a passage. • Running the eyes over quickly through all the material but usually by skipping the details. • To know how the passage is organized,  that is, the structure of the text         

18. 3. Scanning • It is the fastest reading, focusing on looking for specific information. • Scanning involves quick eye movements, in which the eyes wander until the reader finds the piece of information needed.  • Scanning is used when a specific piece of information is required, such as a name, date, symbol,  formula, or phrase, is required.

19. 4. Intensive Reading/Careful Reading • It is the slowest kind of reading. The speed of the reading is 50 – 350 words per minute. • It is used for extracting information accurately Where you read every word, and work to learn from the text. • You read carefully focusing on the details of the text: • Identify key vocabulary • Identify main ideas and details • Making inferences • Looking at the order of information and how it effects the message

20. 5. Extensive Reading • It is simple reading. • it is used for pleasure like novels, stories etc. • It occurs when you read large amounts of interesting material, usually out of class, concentrating on meaning, "reading for gist" and skipping unknown words."

21. Comparison of efficient and slow readers Efficient reader Reads ideas. Reads multi-word phrases. Visualizes ideas. Has a purpose for reading. Adjusts reading speed to need. Keeps reading. Has a large vocabulary in that subject area. Practices speed reading daily. Marks text for memory. Classifies materials as critical, interesting, or trash. Slow reader Reads words. Reads one word at a time. Says words out loud. Reads to "the end of the book." Reads everything slowly and deliberately. Re-reads sentences to be sure of understanding. Has a limited vocabulary in that area. Rarely attempts speed reading. Leaves pages clean with no marking. Reads everything irregularly.

22. The BBC is reporting that Harry Potter is responsible for the dwindling number of wild owls in India. One reason is that owls are being trapped and sold as pets is that parents are buying them as gifts for their kids who are fans of the fictional wizard. As you may know, Harry has his own pet owl, Hedwig. • What does “dwindling” mean? • having feathers b. becoming less c. flying d. appearing 2. Many children in India want owls ____ • as pets b. to become extinct c. as special food d. to use their feathers 3. From the passage, we can see that _____ • Everyone loves Harry Potter movies • Owls don’t taste as good as chickens c. People want to kill owls d. being popular can be harmful

23. Scientists have known for a long time that vitamin D is essential for humans. If children have a vitamin D or calcium deficiency, they can develop rickets, a softening of the bones. New studies are showing that people of all ages need vitamin D to help them fight off diseases by keeping their immune systems strong. 1. The main idea of this paragraph is that vitamin D___.a. is found in milk b. has been studied by scientistsc. is no secret d. is important for good health 2. If something is essential, it is _______.a. harmful b. expensivec. dreadful d. needed 3. When you have a deficiency of something, you _______.a. have all you need b. do not have enoughc. look like an onion d. are rich