Unformatted text preview: 9/21/21, 5:26 PM Reading Strategies | College Success Identify vocabulary-building techniques to strengthen
your reading comprehension Types of College Reading Materials
As a college student, you will eventually choose a major or focus of
study. In your first year or so, though, you’ll probably have to complete
“core” or required classes in different subjects. For example, even if you
plan to major in English, you may still have to take at least one science,
history, and math class. These different academic disciplines (and the instructors who teach them) can vary greatly in terms of the materials that
students are assigned to read. Not all college reading is the same. So,
what types can you expect to encounter? Textbooks
Probably the most familiar reading material in college is the textbook.
These are academic books, usually focused on one discipline, and their
primary purpose is to educate readers on a particular subject
—”Principles of Algebra,” for example, or “Introduction to Business.” It’s
not uncommon for instructors to use one textbook as the primary text for
an entire course. Instructors typically assign chapters as readings and
may include any word problems or questions in the textbook, too. Articles
Instructors may also assign academic articles or news articles.
Academic articles are written by people who specialize in a particular
field or subject, while news articles may be from recent newspapers and
magazines. For example, in a science class, you may be asked to read
an academic article on the benefits of rainforest preservation, whereas in
a government class, you may be asked to read an article summarizing a
recent presidential debate. Instructors may have you read the articles
online or they may distribute copies in class or electronically.
The chief difference between news and academic articles is the intended audience of the publication. News articles are mass media: They … 3/15 ...
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