Chapter 3 Reading Technical Information
By: Elijah Wreh and Anil Shrestha
Objectives and Outcomes
1. Understand that workplace professionals and presentations read comments, listen to conversations and presentations, and view visuals for a variety of purposes: assessing and making decisions, background, learning to do a task, and actually doiung a task.
2. Recognize that reading and writing are synergistically linked activities-each affects the other.
3. Use the strategies of experienced communicators:
-Skim, scan, and predict
-Identify structure/hierachy: document features, visual displays, and organization.
-Determine the main points.
-Draw inferences:tacit assumptions, implications, ethics, and impact of implications.
-Generate questions and examples.
-Monitor and adapt strategies before, during, and after reading.
Identifying Purposes
There are variety of purposes you read for in a professional workplace. These purposes can be categorized into four main categories.
1. Reading to assess
2. Reading to learn
3. Reading to learn to do
4. Reading to do
1. Reading to assess- This reading enables you to decide whether the document will be useful for you or someone else.
2. Reading to learn- This reading allows you to learn information for problem solving , decision making, and background knowledge
3. Reading to learn to do- This reading enables you to learn how to complete tasks.
4. Reading to do- This reading helps you to complete tasks.
Reading-Writing Relationships
Reading and writing played a meaningful role in our day to day activities. What ever the situation may be, one have to be a effective reader and writer in order to communicate effectively with others from different Languages. Whenever, one is communicating to a audience that is comprises of people from different languages and cultural backgrounds, one have to be precise and put out the message thoroughly and accurately. There are tons of people out there especially in our society today, who find it very difficult and hard to understand English, so whenver one communicate, whether it is done by the print and electronic media or whatever means of communications, it should be done in the simplest format. For instance, a gentleman from Russia told me about his reading ordeal, that is he read an article from CNN and he found it very difficult understanding the nitty-gritty about the article.
How will you considered this individual? Effective or non-effective reader and writer!
Strategies for effective Reading
There are plenty of strategies to make one an effective reader and writer. However, the author of this book listed three things, namely: skim, scan and predict. I considered it as SSP in my own word.
Skim-Whenever one read a document, they need to skim through it as soon as possible in order to understand the content and mainpoint of the document. The secret begin this, is to get a quick understanding of the document and what is it all about.
Scan-For this part, before one read a document, one should scan through the document thoroughly, by running their eyes from the top of the page to the bottom of the page, paying keen attention to any phrase or word that is unusual and not understandable.
Predict-In the process of skimming and scanning through the document, begin to ask yourself reasonable questions and formulate hypothesis in your mind. This will help you get an insight about the document when you are done reading.
Identify Structure and Hierarchy
Technical documents have certain structure and hierarchy. They have features such as heading, visual cues, and previews.
Document features: Standard features of a document can help readers know what to anticipate.
Visual cues: Visual cues help readers distinguish the hierarchy of ideas in a document. Readers have an easier time understanding and using documents that have the following features.
1. Information is chunked
- Related information is chunked so that relationships are clear
- Heading and subheadings signal and separate topics
- Spacing between lines and sections separate related information
2. Information is arranged so that sequence is clear
- numbers or letters indicate the sequence
3. Information is emphasized so that important elements are signaled
- type size can indicate the hierarhy
- placement on a page or screen can indicate hierarchy
- using different fonts,type style variations, and icons
Previews and Reviews: previewing and reviewing enables the reader to identify then reinforce the structure or organization of a document.
Determine the main Points
It will sound pretty much awkward, if one read a document or an article from a newspapers and don't understand the main points. Readers need to pay key attentions to what, who, where and how whenever they read a document or an article. This will aid them in understanding the main points of a document.
Draw Inferences
Most people find it difficult and hard whenver they read a document, article, commentary, news stories or what ever the documents may be. But theoretically speaking, it is advisable and appropraite for one to draw inferences and take down notes, make connections and draw conclusions while reading. This will assist them to be an effective and productive readers in their career.
Generate Questions and Examples
Asking questions help understand a document. Sometimes readers benefit from using traditonal taxonomy ( a formal method of classification). One widely used taxonomy uses six levels of questions.
- Knowledge questions emphasize the recall of specifics.
- Comprehension questions require responses that incorporate knowledge as well as understanding.
- Application questions require specific applications of principles or theories.
- Analysis questions emphasize the separation of objects, mechanisms, systems,organisms,operations,clearly establishing the relationship between these parts.
- Synthesis questions expect the reader to focus on organizing or structuring the parts to form a unique whole. The response may either serve as an over all plan or explain a particular phenomenon.
- Evaluation questions require readers to judge something’s qualitative and quantitative value.
Monitor and Adapt Reading Strategies
Effective readers are aware of what they’re doing when they move through a document. They’re actively engaged in their reading; they’re aware of their comprehension of concepts and terms. when their comprehension or speed decreases , they adjust their strategies to meet the needs of the situation.
Individual and Collaborative Assignments--Footnotes
1. Identify the purpose, methodology, result(s), and conclusion.
2. Identify the purpose, methodology, result(s), and conclusion.
3. Identify the main points.
4. Determine kinds of reading.
5. Compare differences in reading purposes.
6. Interrogate a document.
POSTED BY ELIJAH WREH AT 10:06 AM
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23 comments:
When reading technical information you must first scan the document to help you understand what it is that you are reading so all concepts brought about in the document can be better retained as useful information. It is important to understand that like things will be "chunked" together, this helps separate topics.
I thought that it was a good thing for the effective reading strategies to be included in this chapter. The reading was divided up into four different reading outcomes. Reading to learn, reading to do, etc. I found that to be interesting because in college I just find myself reading because I have to if I want to succeed reather then reading for enjoyment.
I feel that this chapter has really made me a better reader in college. I too was one to only read because I had to for a class. By skimming the document a person is better able to see and retain the concepts better. The four types of reading are not only practical but better a person in how to effectively read.
this chapter talks about the reading portion of tech. comm. It goes over the four types of reading. This gives me some tips on how to better myself in the way I read.
This is a very useful chapter about the importance of making sure your audience understands what you are writing about. Especially when you are writing to people from other countries. Sometimes we use common phrases used in America and they may not understand them because they don’t hear them everyday. And always remember to ask questions if you do not understand something. Why continue to misunderstand it when you may need to use it in the future.
In order to properly get the message across to a certain audience of readers, writers must clearly and effectively display their message. All forms of writing can be used, but certain types are better used in some cases, and others in another. When the viewer/reader is gathering the information that is being presented, it can be very important to know how to scan/view it and take in the information. This chapter has good techniques on how a reader can do so, and also explains different types of reading styles for different scenarios. It helps refresh my mind, because I often forget about the types of reading and like many others, read because I'm told so or am suppose to.
This chapter was very informative and actually helpful. You have to be able to do all the steps it specifies in order to be an effective reader. With this chapter i think everyone can agree that it is beneficial to make reading more understandable and successful in learning.
It was kind of funny how this chapter summary was going over how to properly read technical documentation effectively, when I felt like I was never going to make it through reading the whole thing. I did however actually use a few of the techniques mentioned without even realizing it. I skimmed to see how long it was, scanned to see what it was about, and predicted that I probably wasn't going to really enjoy reading it. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, and the structure of the summary made it quite easy to read.
I thought that the Skim, Scan, and Predict approach was good information to have. Going through a document like that first will help you to get more out of your reading. Also identifying your purpose for reading can help you determine what you need to get out of the document and it could also save you time. I also agree with the text when it talks about generating questions and examples when reading. This is something I find myself doing when I read and I don't even intend to do it, but it can really help me understand the text better.
I thought you laid this chapter out pretty well. I did notice a few grammatical mistakes, but it didn't take away from the content. I thought you did a good job of showing that you really have to read through what you write at least two or three times before you publish it. It would almost be worth it to keep a guideline like this while reading over it to make sure you are thinking about your audience, language barriers, etc. Good job.
I have stuggled with reading throughout my highschool and college career. This chapter and some useful tips that may help in the future. Reading is a stuggle for me becuase i have no motivation to do it. If i could find a more efficient way to read i may have more motivation to do it.
I thought that this chapter was helpful. Granted, it was weird to have a book teach me how to read but it is effective. Also learning a better way to read a document will help out a lot in life when I need to read massive amounts of information and be able to retain it.
This chapter was useful in understanding proper ways to read technical documents. A way to go about reading documents is by skimming, scanning, and then reading. Look through the headings, key words, and the intro and conclusion. Asking yourself questions along the way will allow to interpret the information better. Learning how to read effectively will save time and help you understand the meaning and main points of the document. I found myself using the techniques suggested while I was reading this chapter.
I liked the point about the relationship between reading and writing. It is so true that if someone has written something out of order and there are no headings that the person reading could not even understand what they read in the end. I notice this in class when taking notes. If the teachers notes are jumbled together and they dont highlight the main topics usually my notes arent as easy to study from.
I thought this chapter was very helpful because it pointed out different methods of reading and understanding technical documents that people will encounter on a daily basis. I think that the most effective way would be the Skim, Scan, and then Read. This method forces you to first, look at the key points in the document. And after you have key ideas in your head you will have an easier time trying to understand what the document is trying to say.
I am one of those that reads through an entire chapter and twenty minutes later i have no idea what it was about. these reading concepts made me realize what i was doing wrong and now i believe i can do a much better job on my readings and actually learn something.
This chapter makes note of the huge importance of reading throughout your education into your career. Learning to read efficiently and effectively can will greatly increase your likelihood for success, and overall ease of your workload. The chapter points of several hints that could lead to better reading. The point I picked up one easiest was the Skim, Scan, and Predict method. I actually use most of this method when I read. Most of the time I will skim and scan the document before I read it. So having used this I can say first-hand that it is a very useful tool when reading.
This chapter was mainly about stressing ways to adapt the reading level of your article. The chapter mentioned grouping related material together to make the reading easier.
Whenever I've read before, I've never thought of using different techniques for reading. I found the different strategies and types very interesting. Skimming is very important. It will allow you to put things together easier, having idea of what is coming next. Good work Elijah and Anil!
reading is an important part in understanding tech com. You need to know what you are getting yourself into. diffent writting styles may take a differnt interpertation.
This chapter describes the different techniques for reading. You can read a text and totally forget everything in minutes. When you are reading, you should read in such a way that after reading the whole text you should be able to anaylse and present your point of view.
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