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Wow, people really liked my reading guide template for students. So, here are some slides from lecture about getting through the reading. #Thread
(1) You have a lot going on in your life and school might not be your #1 priority. But you still need to do the reading, but you don't have to read every word of it. Here are some ways you can skim, arranged from least time to more time. 
(2) Students frequently take too many notes--you read that right! When you are just starting out, it seems like EVERYTHING is important. It's not. Here are some things I like to focus on: jargon, context, and especially stories.
(3) Sometimes students don't take enough notes, though. They can say what the reading was about (e.g., Russian prisons, the NYPD, an anonymous court), but not much more. So focus on what the author is trying to get across *about* that topic. Bonus: Why did I assign this reading?
(4) One of the biggest problems with reading academic texts is not understanding most of it and feeling stupid. But very few people understand 100% of any given reading. Sometimes, it takes 2-3 reads to get to 80%. For undergrads, I think 30-50% on the first go is more common.
(5) So you don't understand everything. That's okay. Think big picture: if you can answer these questions, you're doing pretty well. Note: you don't need to understand everything in the reading to answer these questions. (See also the reading guide template.)
(6) If you can't answer those questions, it's time to change your strategy. Adjust until you find what works for you. #TheEnd
