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active reading
A manner of reading in which the reader is mentally engaged with a text and reads for comprehension and criticism as well as reads selectively and with a purpose.
Additional information
Active reading includes:
- applying what you know (prior knowledge)
- interacting with the author (responding critically to the text)
- predicting (trying to determine the importance of the selected text)
- solving problems (slowing to understand confusing passages)
- summarizing (at the end of each page or where convenient)
In contrast, passive reading may be identified by reading for recreation, reading from start to finish, or reading with little mental engagement with a text.
Examples and resources
See Suzanne Micallef’s unit length lesson plan, Reading for Relevance in Literature with strategies to scaffold active reading of complex novels.
