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work up to a higher level. If you were lifting weights you would not begin with 200 pounds! You might eventually be able to bench press 200 pounds but you would not attempt this at first. So, in reading you begin slowly but you must progress. College level reading will require that you progress, and more importantly, becoming a more advanced reader will bring greater rewards. You will gain more knowledge and more confidence in your ability to handle subtle and difficult concepts. You also will find that the more advanced your skills become the more enjoyable you find "difficult" materials because they are subtle, complex, and rewarding on many levels.

One of the difficulties in improving an individual's reading skill is to recognize that in order to do this they must improve their overall knowledge. Reading comprehension is about more than simply understanding the words on the page, it also entails understanding the concepts and references made in the reading. This is why you are encouraged to broaden your education and learn about many different subject areas as you go through school. The more you know, the more your reading skills will improve; the more your reading skills improve, the more you can learn. It is a positive feedback loop.

The most practical tip to improve your reading skills is to keep reading! Don't become frustrated because the more you read, the more you will improve your reading skills. Quantity is not the key to achieving this. You must actively work to improve the quality of your reading. Reading can be fun and challenging. Reading can be rewarding on many levels as it adds to your knowledge and understanding of the world. Another important key is to find out why you don't understand what you read. Is it because the concepts are difficult? Is it because the words are unfamiliar? Always keep in mind, especially when reading textbooks, that the author's intent is not to confuse you. No, the author is trying to explain something clearly. The reason you are having trouble is not because the book is written to confuse you. The trouble may be because you are facing the challenge of understanding difficult concepts. The trouble could be because you are faced with new words. The solution here is simple; look them up.

There also may be another problem, a problem that is more difficult to correct but worth the effort it will take to correct it. The problem may be your lack of context. This is precisely the issue that E.D. Hirsch is addressing in

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