How to Improve General Comprehension and Reading for Better Learning
Do you find reading a boring and tedious exercise? Find yourself reading a paragraph over and over again and still not understanding what it’s about?
You’re not alone. We are not hard-wired to read. The human brain is wired for spoken language. Our brains have to repurpose different parts of the brain for reading to create a reading neural network. Which is why the sheer idea of having to read something feels like a chore.
But the thing is, once you get used to this so-called “chore”, your brain becomes stronger and more evolved to parse information of different types. And the good news is that there are some cool ways to become a better reader without yawning every 5 minutes.
Warm-up Your Brain
Before you even start reading, get your brain in gear. Skim the text to get a sense of what it’s about. Look at headings, subheadings, and any images or diagrams. This gives you a preview of the main ideas and helps prepare your brain to connect new information. Think of it like stretching before a workout.
Take It Slow
Don’t be bogged down by peers who read fast. Speed reading might sound impressive, but when it comes to comprehension, slower is better. Take your time. Try to visualize what’s happening. Picture the scenes, characters, or concepts in your mind. For example, if you’re reading about a historical event, imagine yourself in that time period, experiencing the sights, sounds, and emotions of the moment. Maybe you could put image yourself as one of the characters in the story and feel the actions happening in the book as if they were happening to you.
Ask Questions and Make a Map
Don’t just passively read the text—interact with it by asking questions such as, “Why did this character do that?” Or “What are they trying to get at?” This forces you to think more deeply about what you’re reading. It’s like having a conversation with the text. You can even highlight certain words, make annotations on your digital screen, or jot down questions in the margins. Later, when you’ve finished reading, go back and see if you can answer them.
Try reading the following passage.
Let’s read the following short passage one paragraph at a time and break it down into ideas.
By August 1929, the U.S. economy was on a downward slope. Production had already declined
and unemployment had risen. Among the other causes of the stock market crash of 1929 were
low wages, the proliferation of debt, a struggling agricultural sector and an excess of large bank
loans that could not be liquidated. By 1933, unemployment was approaching 15 million people, or 30% of the workforce.
What is this paragraph talking about?
Answer: economic problems during the stock market crash.
Summarize
One of the best ways to make sure you’ve understood something is to explain it in your own words. You can do this out loud, in writing, or even by telling a friend. You can also use a TLDR tool to summarize the chapter and then see if your summarization matches what the tool spits out. The key is to simplify the information.
Every text has a central idea. All the individual sub-points and paragraphs lead towards the main idea. It is the primary point or message that the author wants to convey. Think of the sub-points like individual episodes of a series, and the main idea like the series finale where all the build-up of the episodes comes to a culmination, and everything gets clearer.
Once you’ve figured out the central idea or theme, you’ll be better able to understand what each sub-point is trying to achieve and thus bifurcate arguments that go for or against the overall idea.
Try reading the following passage and list the overall idea and all other supporting/opposing ideas that you can find.
Etsy is doubling down on its artisan roots, which helped transform it from a charming platform for homemade trinkets and unique gifts into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. This move is part of Etsy’s effort to combat its “Amazonification” problem. In 2013, a rule change allowed factory-made goods and dropshippers—sellers of cheap, mass-produced items—to flood the platform. This shift aims to revive Etsy’s growth.
Etsy enjoyed steady buyer growth for years, with a significant surge during the pandemic. However, growth has since plateaued. The loss of Etsy’s personal touch was a major complaint during the 2022 Etsy seller strike, along with increased seller fees. As Etsy shifted away from its original focus, it faced more competition from Amazon, which sold around $750 billion in goods last year, dwarfing Etsy’s $13 billion.
Additionally, the rise of ultra-cheap retailers like Temu and Shein has further challenged Etsy’s market position. Google search trends show Shein matching Etsy in popularity since 2021, with Temu quickly catching up. Even Amazon has had to adapt to maintain its edge against these competitors.
Mix Up Your Reading Materials
Mix Up Your Reading Materials
There’s fiction, non-fiction, articles, essays, business magazine, and even poetry. Each type of writing challenges your brain in different ways and helps you become a more versatile reader. For example, reading novels can improve your empathy and understanding of complex emotions, while non-fiction can boost your analytical skills. So don’t just stick to one type of text. Mix it up.
Remember, the more you practice these techniques, the easier reading and comprehension will become. So next time you pick up a book or open your textbook, try out these tips and see how much more you can get out of what you read. Happy reading!