Reading Comprehension involves the strategy behind words on a page. Instead of the basic skills of reading words, interpreting their meaning and reciting those definitions in our head, reading comprehension moves to the next level of understanding. Those who master reading comprehension unlock concepts and thoughts behind copy for greater interpretation and retention. This plays a key role when reading works from sciences to philosophy and even following a fiction plot.

Reading Comprehension

High reading comprehension makes good readers, but how exactly do good readers comprehend? Numerous studies involving educational instruction, linguistics and computer sciences constantly push greater understanding of how we become more informed readers. Most readers with high comprehension rates read quickly and accurately. They gauge the meaning of several words at one time. This also allows them to use judgment on the importance of certain words among many. Therefore, speed and accuracy serve as a basic foundation for comprehension. A reader – young or old – must work on perfecting these skills before they can expect to improve comprehension.

Good readers with excellent comprehension skills also learn to set a goal and make plans before they read. These readers learn to anticipate what kind of information they may possibly find in the text so that their brain alerts them to important sections answering these questions. This may lead them to rereading certain areas of a passage to accurately pull out the vital information.

Great comprehension skills also involve inference. They learn to bring in outside references from their own lives or other readings to make sense of the passage before them. This helps break down complex information to a relatable form, making it easier to understand and remember.

With a little help, readers can learn comprehension skills that turn them into great readers and open a world of knowledge beyond the page.