MUET ASSIGNMENT

HOW TO BE A GOOD
READER

GROUP MEMBERS : NORILLAH

SITI NURZURAIDA
GLORIA JANE

CLASS : UPPER 6 (1)

TEACHER’S NAME : MDM. ROSAINI SUNI

A GOOD READER

As good readers read, they ask themselves questions and make predictions about what
will happen next. These predictions make it easier to understand what comes next and
significantly add to the enjoyment of reading. It is rewarding to anticipate where the plot may
lead, and then watch it unfold. Often an author will purposely lead the reader to a false
expectation, so that the reader can enjoy the surprise of a different outcome. The reader will
never have surprises if he has made no predictions. Getting new readers to trust their predictions,
and to recover when their predictions are wrong, is a critical part of empowering students with
the skill of understanding.

HOW TO BECOME A GOOD READER

Good reading doesn't end at proper pronunciation and speed. Being a good reader means
comprehension, intuition, and observation. It's a skill that is beneficial not only in class but in
personal growth and development. You don't need to have been born with a natural inclination
for the written word, here's how to be a good reader:

1. Make Reading your habit

Reading for many people is fun and enjoyable. You can improve your English reading skills by
reading as much as possible. Reading articles on topics of your interest is always an enjoyable
and pleasure experience. To make reading your habit, you may begin by reading shorter texts
and after a week progress to the longer texts. Train yourself to read daily.

2. Read a Variety of Materials

Newspapers, magazines, novels, encyclopedia, etc are some typical reading materials to start
with. In addition, reading English eBooks and weblogs or blogs helps too. Magazines such as
Readers’ Digest are suitable for your general knowledge, English grammar and vocabulary. A
recommended blog for Malaysian students is Malaysia Students blog.
3. Keep an open mind.
If you approach a book thinking it's going to be terrible, it's going to be terrible. Not because it
actually was but because we often set out to reaffirm our beliefs and expectations. If you can't
keep an open mind, you won't be able to understand the book as the author meant it to be
understood.

4. Read Articles from Different Disciplines

Do not limit your reading materials to your favourite topics. Instead, you should read articles and
scholarly journals from various disciplines. For instance, health, technology, education, science,
environment, you name it. You'll begin to see recurring themes and symbols, universal ones that
all novels draw from. You'll begin to understand literary references, not only in other books but
in TV shows and movies as well.

5. Take some classes.

Good reading means training. Either you need to train yourself or others can help you. It's never
too late to learn. Professors and teachers will give you insight into a novel that only experience
can teach. Your fellow students will bring up thoughts and reflections that you might never have
considered. If you don't have the time for school, start a book club. Get friends together and trade
ideas and thoughts about a book. This is a fun and great way to further your education.

6. Learn Skimming and Scanning Skills

Skimming is a skill to read something quickly to find the main facts or ideas in it while scanning
is to read something word by word quickly for a better understanding of the text. Skimming and
scanning skills come in handy in your MUET reading test since you have to answer 50 multiple-
choice questions (MCQ) based on several texts given.

7. Enjoy and engage yourself.

A good reader finds joy in reading. A good reader is a happy reader. If you are a good reader you
will be rewarded in knowledge and a new understanding of or different perspective on life. Make
the book your own. "Thus the good reader that makes the good book; a good head cannot read
amiss: in every book he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else
and unmistakably meant for his ear." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

STEPS
Many people enjoy reading as a way to relax and enrich their minds. If you want to start reading
for pleasure or to improve your reading skills, these steps can help.

1. Get a library card and be prepared to spend a lot of time there browsing.
Libraries are wonderful places to find a variety of books.

2. Find a quiet, comfortable place to read so that you aren’t disturbed.

Make sure it is somewhere with good lighting where you can relax.

3. Pick reading material that interests you.

Read the backs of books or the inside of the dust jacket for a brief summary of the plot.

4. Find a book that's comfortable for you to read.

Skim the first few pages--if you have trouble understanding what the author's trying to
say, you may not enjoy the book.

5. If you have trouble visualizing the story, pay attention to the introductions of
characters and places.
Try to see each in your mind. 'Seeing' the story will make it more real to you and easier to
remember.

6. Try to take the book you're reading with you wherever you go.

7. Return to the library regularly to get new books to read.

TIPS
 You may want to read for a certain amount of time (at least 10 minutes) every day.
 Don't avoid the children's section! Many books written for children are wonderful novels
on their own.
 If you do not know the meaning of a word, try using context clues to figure it out. If that
doesn't work, then look it up in the dictionary.

WARNINGS !
 Don't give up if you get frustrated or get a headache. If you aren't used to reading on a
regular basis, it will be difficult at first. Stay with it and you will be rewarded.
 Don't be upset if you find a book where you can hardly understand any of the words. As
you read, your personal vocabulary will increase, but pick another book if there are too
many obscure and/or difficult words being used in that one.

USING PSQ5R FORMULA

PSQ5R is a technique used to learn from a document by firstly understanding it, and building a
mental framework into which facts can then be fitted. PSQ5R stands for Purpose, Survey,
Question, Read Selectively, Recite, "Rite", Reflect, and Review. Here's how it works:

Purpose : You have to know why you are reading a book to study effectively. Before you
start reading textbooks, articles, etc., spend 5-10 minutes determining why you are reading the
material and what you want to get out of it. Are you supposed to be looking for general concepts
or specific information? How does this tie into the instructor's intentions? When you have
accomplished your purpose, stop reading. This principle, of first establishing your purpose,
whether to get the Focus or Theme, or main ideas, or main facts or figures, or evidence,
arguments and examples, or relations, or methods, can prompt you to use a reading method that
gets what you want in the minimum time.
Survey : Look quickly (i.e., skim) through the entire item you are reading and find out how it
is organized (e.g. title, topic and chapter headings, lead and summary paragraphs, etc.). This
allows you to understand the author's purpose, and what material is relevant to what you are
studying. In doing this you should find the Focus of the piece, that is, the central theme or
subject, what it is all about; and perhaps the Perspective, that is, the approach or manner in which
the author treats the theme. This can be a valuable way to save time. This survey should be
carried out in no more than a minute or two.

Question : Before you read the material, determine and compose what questions you need to
have answered (e.g., What do I already know about this topic? What problems or topics are of
concern to me?). These questions can be considered study goals. Rescan the document to see if
any questions stand out. Turn the first heading into a question for which you will seek the answer
when you read. Understanding the answers can help you to structure the information in your own
mind. You will learn better if you are actively searching for answers to particular problems, and
you will be better able to ration your time while reading.

Read Selectively : As you start reading the material do your reading with the purpose and
your questions in mind. In general, look for the ideas, information, evidence, etc., that will meet
your purpose. By reading the first sentence of each paragraph you may well get the answers.
Sometimes the text will "list" the answers by saying "The first point .... Secondly...." and so on.
And in some cases you may have to read each paragraph carefully just to understand the next
one, and to find the Focus or main idea buried in it.

Recite : If you mentally recite what you have just learned, you are much more certain to
remember it. Isolate out the core facts or the essential processes behind the subject, and then see
how other information fits around them. Without looking at the book, recite the answers to the
question, using your own words as much as possible. If you cannot do it reasonably well, look
over that section again.

"Rite" : You should reduce and record what you have learned from the reading by making a
brief outline or point form. The answers should be in key words or phrases, not long sentences.

Reflect : At the end, you should spend a few minutes thinking about the material, and
deciding whether or not your main questions have been answered by what you have read.
Comprehension and retention are increased when you "elaborate" on new information by
comparing and categorizing it, relating one part with another, connecting it to your prior
knowledge and experience, and in general organizing and reorganizing it. Your comprehension
and retention may be enhanced by elaborating on the outline addressed in "Rite” and/or
reorganizing it into a standard outline, a hierarchy, a table, a flow diagram, a map, or even a
"doodle."

Review : Review the material within 24 hours to ensure that you remember what you have
learned. The review should not be a rereading of the article but rather a review of your "reduced"
notes of the paper or chapter to see them as a whole. You can also review by discussing the
material with someone else. You should attempt to see what you remember, and if you need to
review your notes again. Then recite, using the questions or other cues as starters or stimuli for
recall. This latter kind of recitation can be carried out in a few minutes, and should be done every
week or two with important material. A particularly effective method of reviewing information is
to have to teach it to someone else!

READING SKILLS
The following are some of the reading skills that candidates must master to be able to answer the
Reading Comprehension questions with confidence.

 In the reading component, candidates should be able to perform a number of skills such
as extracting key ideas, matching information, rearranging ideas in a text, selecting
relevant details, identifying language functions, interpreting linear and non-linear texts,
synthesizing information, inferring writer’s intention, tone and attitude, identifying
conventions, style and tone of different opinions and identifying relationships within and
between texts.
  The questions posed in the reading comprehension section can be based on Bloom’s
Taxonomy of reading objectives – i.e. Understanding Comprehension, Application,
Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation.

1. The understanding and comprehension of texts requires candidates to :

 Skim and scan text or passages to extract key ideas while reading passages quickly and
selectively
 Select relevant details, match information and rearrange ideas in a text
 Derive the meaning of words/phrases/sentences from the context based on the clues
within the sentence or between sentences in he given passage

2. The reading skill of application requires candidates to :

 Make predictions about what will happen next in the plot/passage based on clues or
words; the ability to predict will enhance your comprehension skills and performance in
the examination
 Apply a concept to a new situation; this will further develop the skills of the critical
reader and enhance exam performance

3. The reading skill of analysis requires candidates to :

 Identifying and understand language functions (grammatical structures and vocabulary)
in a given text to enhance comprehension and to chart the flow of thought in a passage
 Interpret linear and non-linear texts and to identify conventions, style and tone of
different text types
 Make inferences or form an opinion/judgement based on reasoning or known facts; you
make an educated guess about something not directly stated in the passage, e.g. infer
writer’s intention, tone, attitude…
 Distinguish main ideas from supporting details/distinguish the irrelevant from relevant,
an important skill which a good reader develops; thus the candidate is able to extract
specific information from a literally text and to sequence/rank/prioritise information
 Distinguish fact from opinion, a crucial skill for a critical and discerning reader; a fact is
a truth/reality proven by experiments or observation, an opinion is a personal belief,
feeling or judgement often found in biased editorials or articles
 Understand sense relationships within and between sentences by looking out for
reference words and linking words so as to identify specific relationships like cause and
effect, compare and contrast in texts, identify a change or reversal in thought or show a
sequence or time order
4. The reading skill of synthesis requires candidates to :
 Relate ideas and concepts within a paragraph and between paragraph so that a point
develop or a line of argument is easily comprehended
 Summarise the main ideas and supporting details of a reading text and to be able to
paraphrase or to restate in original words the complete and exact meaning of what the
writer has said or written; this is an important skill as it will help candidates to
immediately understand the nuances of ‘trick’ questions with double negatives

5. The reading skill of evaluation requires candidates to :

 Appraising/evaluating information, making judgements and drawing conclusions based
on a critical reading of the passage
 Recognizing and interpreting writers’ views, attitudes or intentions so as to be able to
make intelligent choices in the often tricky MCQ questions
REFERENCE

http://imani.wordpress.com/2007/07/28/how-to-be-a-good-reader/
http://www.ehow.com/how_4614946_be-good-reader.html#ixzz1Drz8NCXg
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Reader
http://www.uk-student.net/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=74
http://www.ehow.com/how_4614946_be-good-reader.html#ixzz1DrzCfLG0
Gurnam Kaur Sidh, 2009 , Model Test Papers MUET, Cerdik Publications