How to get an overview of a reading

Read any info provided about the author. This helps you evaluate the author's credibility and may preview his or her perspective on the subject.

Consider the title. A good title often tells you lots about the selection's main ideas.

Read the selection straight through for pleasure. Try to read it in the spirit the author intended. And also be aware of your own response as you're reading.

Especially if a selection is long, start highlighting or taking notes--on your response and on the author's ideas--even during your first reading. This helps you keep track of important ideas.

Pay special attention to visuals. Where do they come from? Is the source reliable? What mood or meaning do visuals convey? Is the information clear?

After you've finished the selection, jot down a brief summary of it AND of your reaction to it. This initial response is important to your eventual understanding of a piece of writing.

This guide is based on chapter 1 of The Longman Writer, by Nadell, Langan & Comodromos.