to read What is Reading? Mental activity performed to get messages from written language. Reading is associated with understanding and comprehension. It demands effort and hard work. READING as an Acronym • R- • E- • A- • D- • I- • N- • G- Reading as a Process • Reading a text to understand it or derive meaning out of it is a whole process. • It is not possible to obtain thorough understanding of texts without following the reading process. • The process of reading has three steps. The Steps in the process of Reading • Pre-reading • While-reading • Post-reading Pre-reading Stage Before reading something you must consider the following questions: • Have I read anything on the given topic before? If yes, what did I read? Recall the previous information. • If you have never read anything on the given topic, think of ideas and information you currently have on the given topic. • How important and relevant is the topic to real life? Pre-reading Stage • Does it interest you? • For a book, research journal/paper, etc, analyse the title, the writer, year of publication, publication institute, content page, etc. • For articles, analyse the topic, the writer, the year of publication, in what book/magazine/newspaper is it published in, etc. Important Note Pre-reading stage should prepare you for reading. It systematizes reception of new information and broadens your thinking. While-reading Stage: • In this stage, actual reading takes place. • Read the lines as well as in between the lines. • Connect the new information with the previously held information and ideas. Post-reading Stage: • In this stage, you evaluate the text and form an opinion about it on the basis of sound criteria. Levels of Reading • Comprehension in reading happens at the following levels. In fact, writers organize messages in written texts at the given levels: Literal Inferential Evaluative Literal comprehension: (the surface level): • This level deals with messages given in a direct and straightforward fashion. • Literal items cover facts and details and relationship between ideas (such as comparison, contrast, sequence of events, or cause and effect) that are stated explicitly in the passage. • In order to be able to uncover messages on other levels, clear understanding of messages at the literal level is a must. Inferential level: (in between the lines) • In many cases, writers state ideas indirectly. They may consciously or unconsciously imply certain ideas. • Smart readers uncover the hidden messages as well as without inference, one can not achieve complete understanding of a text. Evaluation: (beyond the lines) • Evaluation refers to judging the content and the writer on the basis of authentic criteria. • Think about what you have read. Exercise: • Follow the process of reading and try to read all the levels of the text on the next slide. Jogging-Good or Bad A newly published report indicates that jogging could have adverse health effects, especially for those who do it alone. A team of researchers from Harvard University has suggested that going for a run on your own is not as healthy as previously believed and is nowhere near as beneficial as jogging as part of a group. They suggested it could actually be detrimental to one’s health. Experiments conducted on rats indicated that running alone raises stress levels and stifles brain cell regeneration. Professor Elizabeth Gould, who led the research, said: “These results suggest that, in the absence of social interaction, a normally beneficial experience can exert a potentially deleterious influence on the brain.” Jogging-Good or Bad The researchers monitored two groups of rats on exercise wheels. One group exercised alone, the other as part of a rodent jogging team. After two weeks, the scientists conducted tests to ascertain the rate of brain cell growth in all of the test animals. The results revealed that the communal joggers had double the amount of new brain cells as the solo runners. Professor Gould concluded that: “When experienced in a group setting, running stimulates neurogenesis (brain cell growth). However, when running occurs in social isolation, these positive effects are suppressed.” Joggers around the world should perhaps take the research with a pinch of salt and remember that jogging is healthier than the rat race.