Academic Reading Skills

What is academic reading? Academic reading is an active process of reading where the reader interacts with a text through taking notes, making connections between the text through what they already know and what other texts have said, and asking critical questions about the content they read. Academic reading involves a multi-faceted approach of engagement where the reader uses a range of reading strategies (prediction, surveying, skimming, scanning, analysis, reading in detail and summarising) to determine the scope and relevance of a piece and deciding which parts should be read in more depth (Wilson, 2022).

Reading Skills by AEUK

Reading Skills Worksheets / Lessons

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Reading Lessons

Reading Strategies 

 

Key reading strategies

Information sheet: This document identifies the key reading strategies associated with reading a text (surveying, skimming, scanning, main ideas, subsidiary ideas, writer’s stance, credibility, etc..) and defines each one. This sheet supports the two reading strategies lessons.  Level ***** [B2/C1]  TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Reading Strategies 1

 

 Reading strategies 1

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of the key reading strategies. It practises prediction, surveying, skimming, scanning, guessing unknown words, reading for detail and summarising. It includes a 480-word text. Worksheet example Time: 60mins.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Reading Strategies 2

 

Reading Strategies 2 (leadership styles text)

Topic: Leadership & Management Styles.Use and practice a variety of reading strategies to understand how to read journal articles efficiently. 5-page worksheet on all reading strategies (scanning, skimming, genre analysis, reading for detail, summaries) & 8-page reading document. Level ***** [B2/C1] Example / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Text Exploitation

Text exploitation: how to exploit a text to facilitate learning 

This lesson / worksheet helps improve students’ independent learning skills. It includes 6 tasks (vocabulary, grammar, cohesion, summary, paraphrase & referencing) on how to use text to facilitate learning (see worksheet example) Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Improve your Vocabulary Reading Lesson

Reading lesson: Improve your vocabulary

A great reading lesson on how to improve your vocabulary. The lesson starts with a discussion followed by a reading text with test type questions. The lesson includes teacher’s notes, question sheet, reading text and research website links. Example. Words: 500.  Lower-levels ***** [B1/B2], TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Critical Thinking Text Analysis

Text Analysis 1: Going to university

A great lesson for developing and practising critical thinking skills. It is a 400-word text on ‘going to university’ with over 15 possible problems. Students use the higher level thinking skills of analysis and evaluation to examine, question and critique the textExample.  Level: ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Reading Summary Skills

Reading Timeline Summary

 

Reading Timeline: Richard Branson

A biographical account of British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin. Read the text and order the events of his life on the time line sheet provided. Words: 731  Level ***** [B1/B2] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Artificial Intelligence

 

Reading Summary & Response Writing

Topic: 100 year study of A.I (Stanford Uni, 2016). Two page text (included) – students read the text, make notes of key ideas, relevant support and write a 250 word summary. Then they write 150-word critical response. Lesson includes a plan, outline, suggested main points and support, a model summary and model response [webpage].  Level ***** [B2/C1] Example / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Mergers and Acquisitions 

 

Reading & Writing Argument Essay [Mergers & Acquisitions]

Topic: Mergers & Acquisitions. Two short texts (included) – students read the texts, make notes of key arguments,  and write a 400-600 word essay using in-text referencing and paraphrasing. Lesson includes teacher notes, outline & a model essay [webpage] . Example Level ***** [B2/C1]

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Universities

 

Reading Summary & Response Writing

Topic: The World is Going to University (The Economist, 2015). Two page text (Download from the Economist) – students read text, make notes of key ideas, relevant support & write a 250 word summary.  Then write a 150-word critical response. Lesson includes a plan, outline, main points & support, a model summary and model response [webpage].  Level ***** [B2/C1] Example / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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SPSE: Burj Khalifa

 

Burj Khalifa: SPSE Reading & Writing Lesson

Three texts on how the Burj Khalifa was built, the problems it encountered in the building and planning stages and what solutions were implemented. Students read three short texts, create an outline and then write an SPSE essay. The lesson includes all texts, teacher’s notes, an outline plan and model answer. More information /  Example  /   Level: ***** [B2/C1]  TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

SPSE: Fracking

 

Fracking: SPSE Reading & Writing Lesson

Three texts on what is fracking, associated problems with the disposal of fracking waste water mixed with hazardous chemicals and a possible solution using modern technology. Students read three short texts, create an outline & then write an SPSE essay. The lesson includes texts, teacher’s notes, outline plan & model answerMore information / Example  /  Level: ***** [B2/C1]   TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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SPSE: Nuclear Power

Nuclear Power: SPSE Reading & Writing Lesson

Four texts on the construction of HPC Nuclear Power Plant and the associated problems with the company financing it and unreliable nuclear reactor technology. Students read four short texts, create an outline and then write an SPSE essay. The lesson includes all texts, teacher’s notes, an outline plan and model answer. More information / Example /  Level: ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Reading Questioning Worksheets

Critical Thinking Reading & Listening Questions

   

Critical Thinking: questions to support critical reading 

This information sheet provides a range of questions that should be applied when reading any academic text. The answers to these question should be then applied in writing. TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Critical Thinking Infographic

   

Critical Thinking: cheat sheet infographic

This is a simple infographic offering questions that work to develop critical thinking on any given topic. Whenever your students discover or talk about new information, encourage them to use these questions for sparking debate and the sharing of opinions and insights among each other.TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Critical Thinking Linear Questions

   

Critical Thinking: a linear question sheet

This information sheet shows the development of an argument: from description to analysis and evaluation. It sets out a linear model of guiding questions that lead into each level of thinking (Plymouth University).TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Critical Thinking Socratic Questions

Critical Thinking: Socratic questioning

This information sheet uses a range of socratic question under the topics of: clarifying, challenging, using evidence, exploring evidence, considering consequences and questioning the question (TES).TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Self-Assessment Reading Questionnaire

  

Self-Assessment Questionnaires

These academic English self-assessment questionnaires focus on the four key skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Each questionnaire focuses on the individual elements of each skill and students rank their confidence level accordingly. These questionnaires help students evaluate and assess their learning and encourage learner autonomy. Questionnaire worksheet example.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1/C2]  TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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