BA Business Studies: Improving Study Skills Through Active Reading

This essay explores the importance of study skills, particularly active reading techniques, for students in higher education. It discusses identifying new words, understanding the main idea, using a pencil for note-taking, and utilizing drawing and sketching for visual learning. The essay also reflects on personal reading habits and strategies for improvement, such as expanding vocabulary and conducting thorough research. It concludes that effective reading skills are crucial for academic success and personal growth, emphasizing the role of these techniques in facing future challenges.

Study Skills For Higher
Education

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Choose four of the active reading techniques mentioned above and discuss why they are
important for students......................................................................................................................3
Personal experience: Describe your own reading habits and how you will improve your reading
technique..........................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Study skills are different strategies that an individual use to learn. Any skill which helps
the person to boost the ability of studying for future growth known as study skills. These
learning skills helps the students to learn and grow in a better way (Atieh, York, and Muñiz,
2020). Every individual develops their own personal approach of learning and studying the facts.
These skills could not develop overnight, proper research and knowledge about the topic is also
important in order to learn effectively. Once mastered, these skills will be beneficial throughout
the future. In this report there will be brief analysation of active reading techniques which are
important for students and also, discussing about reading habits which helps to improve reading
techniques.
MAIN BODY
TASK
Choose four of the active reading techniques mentioned above and discuss
why they are important for students.
There are certain helpful reading techniques which helps the student to grow and boost the
efficiency of their learner skills. Highly educated citizens tend to involved in more activities
which are important to live a stress free and healthy life. The first and foremost strategy is to
identify new words whenever reading a document or book (Cottrell, 2020). There are multiple
new words appear in front of students when they read difficult passage. Student has to become
proactive in order to understand the passage. They could mark and highlight different lines in the
paragraph which becomes helpful for the student to understand the true meaning of the sentence.
This reading technique helps to improve individuals’ vocabulary. With the help of enhanced
vocabulary, it is easier for student to gain more confidence and become successful in the future.
The second step is to find the Main idea or thesis. Whenever a student reads the passage, not
only reading the passage is important but to understand the idea behind that topic is also
important (Beh, and Ganapathy, 2021). Thesis study is crucial for an individual. This technique
only develops by doing proper research about the topic.
This strategy helps the student to showcase their knowledge and expertise in the given
subject. This could be beneficial for them when they submit their projects in the university.
Choosing a captivating topic is also an important factor for students to develop thesis properly.
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The third technique is to Read with pencil While, reading the paragraph many students use
highlighter rather than using a pencil for marking important lines which could not be beneficial
for them (Sera, and McPherson, 2019). The learner develops good habit of learning by making
proper notes with the help of pencil and understand more about the particular topic. Marking the
topic also helps them in future if they wish to revise their work.
The fourth and last technique is Draw and Sketch. By, using this strategy a learner learns
very quickly because of visual learning (Costin, O'Brien, and Slattery, 2018). It creates a huge
impact on the minds of student while making the diagram and learning about the topic. By,
making proper sketch and timeline helps the student to create a difference in their learning
experience. Their mind will would generate more thoughts and studying will become more
effective for them. This technique helps them to grow in future.
Personal experience: Describe your own reading habits and how you will
improve your reading technique.
In my own experience when I was in the university my reading habits was not very proper.
The real problem is when I want to read something my focus tends to shift and my thoughts were
unclear. If an individual person wants to improve these habits, there are certain skills from which
a student or reader can grow these skills effectively. This can help me in future to achieve the
desired goals in the education (Landry, 2019). When I was present in my university lectures, I
got an idea that my vocabulary is not perfect as I lack in pronouncing words, and I was not very
fluent in speaking due to my poor reading skills.
I cannot get clear thoughts and ideas whenever I wish to write something. My main
focus is to follow different techniques in order to gain maximum output whenever I want to read
something. (Taghani, and Razavi, 2021). I will improve my reading skills by learning new
emerging words which will appear in front of me. It becomes beneficial for me by marking these
words into notes. As it will improve my vocabulary. Also, Monitoring every word whenever I
read new paragraphs or documents will also help me to enhance my skills. The main motive is to
make this a habit this will help me in future to effectively grow my skills.
The second step which will I follow is doing proper research about the particular topic or
document (Vlachopoulos, and Makri, 2019). It is an important aspect to have proper knowledge
about the reading content. By following these techniques, it will help me to grow and improve
my reading habits and skills.
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Conclusion
From the above report it has concluded that reading skills are important in higher
education. On the other hand, effective reading always helps the individual to get the positive
outcome. The technique of identifying new words helps the students to improve their skills,
knowledge and improves their vocabulary and sentence formation. From the above report it has
analysed that reading habits helps the learner to get more clear thoughts about the content which
they are reading. As, per the own experience reading skills found to be very poor due to lack of
vocabulary and poor sentence formation. In order to improvise these skills, the reading
techniques will play vital role to face future challenges.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Atieh, E.L., York, D.M. and Muñiz, M.N., 2020. Beneath the surface: an investigation of general
chemistry students’ study skills to predict course outcomes. Journal of chemical
education, 98(2), pp.281-292.
Cottrell, S., 2020. Teaching study skills and supporting learning. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Sera, L. and McPherson, M.L., 2019. Effect of a study skills course on student self-assessment of
learning skills and strategies. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 11(7),
pp.664-668.
Landry, M.H., 2019. The Efficacy of Teaching Independent Study Skills Within English for
Academic Purposes Programs. BC TEAL Journal, 4(1), pp.1-12.
Taghani, A. and Razavi, M.R., 2021. The effect of metacognitive skills training of study
strategies on academic self-efficacy and academic engagement and performance of
female students in Taybad. Current Psychology, pp.1-9.
Vlachopoulos, D. and Makri, A., 2019. Online communication and interaction in distance higher
education: A framework study of good practice. International Review of Education,
65(4), pp.605-632.
Costin, Y., O'Brien, M.P. and Slattery, D.M., 2018. Using simulation to develop entrepreneurial
skills and mind-set: An exploratory case study.
Beh, M.E. and Ganapathy, M., 2021. Exploring the Effectiveness of Thinking Skills Framework
on Academic Writing in Higher Education. AJELP: Asian Journal of English Language
and Pedagogy, 9(1), pp.1-15.
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