Reading Book-Length Arguments
Before trying this approach, we recommend that you read the Fundamentals of Efficient Reading or an overview of college-level reading strategies. The below strategy is specifically designed for material that presents a book-length argument, although the basic idea can also be used for argumentative articles.
Triple read the book
- Why this works: If you're able to grasp the structure and the core argument of a book, you can avoid getting bogged down in details and be more prepared to discuss the big ideas.
- How to do it: Before you start reading, remember to first reduce any distractions and write down your reading goal. Then:
- Look through the book to grasp the structure (5 mins): Does the title have a subtitle? Is there a book description on the back that seems useful? How long is the table of contents? Does it have parts, chapters, sections? How many pages is the intro? Does it have sections? How about the conclusion? What's the number of pages and/or sections?
- Grasp the core argument (30–60 mins): In a few sentences, what would you tell a friend who asked, “What's the book about?” To help you answer this question:
- Return to the cover. Why was that title chosen? What point do you think the author is trying to make, and why? It's okay if you're not completely sure. Just start somewhere!
- Look at the table of contents. What are the main parts of the argument? Challenge yourself to generate a good guess.
- Hunt through the introduction chapter to see what you can add to or subtract from your understanding of the argument. Hunt through the conclusion in the same way.
- Resist getting caught up in details. Jot down just enough to keep your mind from drifting to other things.
- Afterward, hide the book and your notes and write down what you now understand of the book's core argument. Remember to give yourself credit for your efforts!
3. Do any additional reading needed to achieve your reading goal (duration depends on your goal and your time window): Determine what speed you have to read at to meet your goal in the available time. Then, hunt through the book to meet that goal. This usually means selectively reading chapters.
- For each chapter worth reading, ask, “What's the meaning of the title? What's the main point in the introductory and concluding paragraphs?”
- For each chapter, ask, “What's the key example or figure that supports this chapter's argument?” If you know the sub-argument and key data or example for a chapter, you're probably in great shape! Test yourself to see if you really know the sub-argument and to improve your retention of it. Remember, you're reading now to demonstrate your learning sometime in the future.
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Reading Book-Length Arguments
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