Advanced LSRW Skills (Part B)

Topics to be covered
• Effective Reading
• Methods of Reading
• Reading Comprehension
• Note Making
• Essay Writing
 Art of Effective Reading
An efficient reader:
• Reads for ideas or information
• Read group of words/multi-phrases
• Quickly adjusts his/her speed of reading to the nature of
the text
• Sets the purpose of reading right in the beginning
• Reads smoothly
• Visualizes ideas
• Has a good vocabulary
• Continuously keeps improving his/her pace of reading
• Properly tries to sort out the material as critical,
interesting, analytical, etc.
 Methods of Reading
• Sub-vocalized reading: It combines sight reading with
internal sounding of the words as if spoken.

• Speed reading: increasing reading speed without

reduction in comprehension or retention. One can
acquire a speed of as much as 1000 words per
minute.

• Proofreading: kind of reading for detecting

typographical errors in a printed text.
 Methods of Reading (contd.)
• Structure-Proposition-Evaluation (SPE): One reads a
writing in three phases: (a) for the structure of the
work, (b) for the logical propositions or progressions
made, (c) for evaluation of the merits of the
arguments and conclusions.
• Multiple Intelligences-based methods: Readers can
use several intelligences, like auditory, visual and
logical intelligence.
 Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension is a two fold process as it
requires you to understand the passage and
reproduce or express the ideas a comprehended.
Ways to improve understanding while reading:
a. Appropriately using different reading skills
(skimming, scanning, intensive, and extensive
reading skills)
b. Understanding the author’s point of view:
(information based or point of view based)
c. Identifying the central idea
d. Inferring Lexical and Contextual meaning
e. Employing discourse analysis
 Inferring Lexical and Contextual meaning

Lexical meaning : lexically suggests understanding its

meaning
Contextual meaning: contextually suggests discovering
its underlying meaning in the context
Remark: ‘...that is how the cloud of ignorance obscures
our view and does not allow us to transcend....’
Cloud lexical meaning: mass of water vapour that floats
in sky
Cloud contextual meaning: some obstacle or barrier that
impedes clarity and obfuscates people
 Employing Discourse Analysis
• Refers to studying the language in use
• To understand the given text and answer the questions
based on it , requires discovering associated features of
the text:
• Style: Basic styles (Informative, descriptive, analytical,
narrative, abstract) helps in structuring ideas
appropriately. Can use one style or can combine
Tone: helps writer express his/her perspective or point
of view
Symbols, imagery and figures of speech: Literary devices
can be used to refer some implicit values, attributes, and
characteristics, or to evoke a pictorial image to capture
attention or induce emotions; influence them to ideas
 Note Making
 In lectures (not recorded) From reading
• While listening to a lecture • While reading you can stop
you cannot pause the lecturer and read something again if
and think about what you required
understood
• If required you can refer to
• You may like to note down key
main content from where
points during the ongoing
you are making notes
session
• You can read and make
• Every time you cannot stop
the lecturer or ask to repeat in notes at your own pace
case you could not note down
 Methods of Note Making
The Cornell Method : Notes are written in the main space of
page and use the left-hand space to label each idea and detail
with a keyword.

The Outlining Method: The information which is most general

begins at the left with each more specific group of facts
indented with space to right.
Example:
I. First main topic
(a) Sub-topic
1. Detail
2. Detail
(b) Sub-topic
II. Second main topic
Methods of Note Making (contd.)
The Mapping Method: Use your cognitive (comprehension)
and analytical skills to identify which idea or fact relates to
which main idea. It is a graphical representation.

Tsunami

Distant tsunami Regional tsunami Local tsunami

When generated When generated

Very dangerous,
from a long way between 1-3hrs
have few minutes
away travel time away
warning
Methods of Note Making (contd.)
The Taxonomizing Method: It is a systematic manner.
Pro forma for the purpose has already been created.
Like dividing page into quadrangles and label them
with appropriate headings like Introduction, causes,
effects, measures.

The Sentence Method: writing down detailed notes

of the lecture or talk. Writing every new thought, fact
or topic on a separate line as you progress.
 Essay Writing
- An important part of competitive examinations.
- Well written essay highlights all the aspects
related to the issue
- Can be written on variety of issues such as
social, political, religious , economic, academic
and of general interest.
- Good essay has consistency, logic, and
sequence of the idea explored by author.
 Components of an Essay
- Structurally an essay can be divided into three parts:
Introduction: Keep it brief and effective. Define or
explain the title and do not take sides on an issue
Body: Evaluate all possible aspects related to topic.
Give due importance to each aspect and use examples,
facts, comparisons to make it look comprehensive and
authentic.
Conclusion: Reinforce the idea already illustrated and
established in the body. Keep conclusion crisp and in
cohesion with other parts of the essay.
 Essay Writing- Guiding Principles
• Work hard on introduction
• Make the main body look authentic and
unified
• Keep the conclusion short and effective
• Write in an effective style
 Connecting Sentences While Writing

Transition words

chronological objects in relation to in order of

order one another importance
first next to however
meanwhile in front of furthermore
later beside as a result
afterwards between in fact
finally behind yet
LOGICAL TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSION
RELATIONSHIP
Similarity also, in the same way, just as ... So, too, likewise, similarly
Exception/ but, however, in spite of, on the one hand ... on the other hand,
Contrast nevertheless, nonetheless,
notwithstanding, in contrast, on the contrary, still, yet
Order first, second, third, ... next, then, Finally
Sequence/ after, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately, later,
Time meanwhile, now,
recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then
Example for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate
Emphasis even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly
Place/Position above, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back, nearby, there
Cause and Effect accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus
Additional additionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally important, further,
Support or furthermore, in addition, moreover, then
Evidence
Conclusion/ finally, in a word, in brief, in conclusion, in the end, in the final analysis, on
Summary the whole, thus, to
conclude, to summarize, in sum, in Summary
 MCQ
1. Which of the following is not a method of Note making?
a. The Taxonomizing Method
b. The Sentence Method
c. The Hybrid Method
d. The Mapping Method
2. Which of the following suggests discovering its underlying meaning in the
context?
e. Lexical meaning
f. Contextual meaning
g. Skimming
h. Scanning
3. Which of the following is the term used for kind of reading for detecting
typographical errors in a printed text?
a. Sub-vocalized reading
b. Proofreading
c. Printreading
d. Previewreading
 Questions to Reflect
Q1. A speaker speaks about 120-150 words per
minute whereas an average person can take
down notes of only 25 words per minute.
What does this statement reflect?
Q2. It is said that reading enhances your general
ability to use other language skills such as
listening, speaking and writing. Do you agree
with the statement?
 References
• S. Kumar and Pushp Lata, Communication
Skills, Oxford University Press,1st, Ed. 2011
• Raman M. and P. Singh, Business
Communication: Principles & Practices, 9th
Impression, Oxford University Press, 2008
• S. Sengupta, Business and Managerial
Communication, Prentice-Hall of India, 2011