What is passive reading, and how could it be not the same as active reading? Reading is Reading, right? Not generally. Let’s explore how these two are different.
What is Active Reading?
Active reading simply means learning something that is willing to understand and evaluate according to your needs. When we read it diligently, we try to grasp the meaning of the text by reading it slowly and carefully, pausing to judge the main idea or re-examining the confusing passage, and interpreting the major meanings and effects on the text.
In more explicit terms, active reading is the point at which a reader reads basically and scientifically. Readers approach the content with specific assumptions and read what is composed with an eye to how it identifies with different things in their own lives or to the bigger world.
Active readers start reading with a craving to discover what will be said.
What is Passive Reading?
Passive reading is the point at which a reader does actually read the words however ingests close to nothing about what is composed.
Passive reading simply means that when a student reads aloud the words of the text, he or she does not know anything about the text. The passive reader simply reads the content without exploring the purpose of the assignment and jumps straight to reading and does not stop thinking, understanding and evaluating what he or she is reading. If you are not sure what you are reading and you cannot explain it to a friend or an expert, you may be reading and doing nothing.
Following are some differences between active and passive reading:
| Active Reading | Passive Reading |
| Visualize | No Visualization |
| Clarify | No Clarity and Understanding of the subject |
| Questions | No Questions as not understood |
| Predict | Can’t Predict |
| Connect | Unable to Connect the Experience |
| Evaluate | Fail to Evaluate |
Basically, the contrast between active and passive reading is the longing to learn something versus the craving to complete the process of reading.
In general, effective reading allows us to achieve following objectives:
- Capture the main ideas, key concepts and learning details.
- Identify, precise, and distill the needed information from the text.
- Connect with the text by making contact with our knowledge and our lives.
- Ask questions that help us to think and remain focused about the content.
Active and Passive Reading Strategies for Beginners
Following are some strategies to help you get started right away.
1. Identify New Words
When reading a difficult paragraph or letter in order to receive an assignment, take a moment to look at the wording. You will probably find that there are many words you think you know – but you can’t really define them. Practice it by underlining every noun or verb that you cannot replace with a synonym.
2. Create a Preliminary Outline
Before you get into reading a textbook or chapter, take the time to scan the pages to find footnotes and other structural references. If you do not see subheadings or chapters, look for conversational words in the middle of the paragraphs. Using this information, you can craft a preliminary outline of the text.
3. Read With a Pencil
It works best to use a pencil and sticky notes when writing. Use a pencil to draw, circle, and explain side words, or (if you are using a library book) use sticky notes to mark the page with a pencil to make notes for yourself.
4. Highlighting
This will work if the students are shown correctly and explain the importance of highlighting. The reader should acknowledge why this is important and should be highlighted. Therefore, as students highlight, they will have to pay more attention to the reading, thus staying more involved in the process.
5. Read Aloud/Think Aloud
You will probably want to show your students how to do this, to make sure they are using the right strategy. It may be helpful to start with a series of short verses or articles, making sure that each reader has his or her own copy. As you read this paragraph aloud, you will want to pause at times to ask appropriate questions.
6. Draw and Sketch
No matter what type of information you read, visual readers can always create a mind map, diagram, diagram, or timeline to represent information.
7. Make a Shrinking Outline
The shrinking outline is one of the most useful tools for consolidating the information you read in a text or in your class notes. To create a downtime, you need to rewrite the things you see in your text. Once you have written a few categories of items, read them and think about one keyword that represents the whole message. Write then the keyword in the margin.
Quick Links