How to read academic texts faster and remember more

Dense texts are easier to read when you know the shape of the argument first. Spend a couple of minutes previewing before you read properly.

• Read the title, abstract, or introduction, and the conclusion.
• Skim the headings and any figures or tables.
• Note what the author is trying to show and how the text is organized.

Turn the headings into questions, such as "What problem does this section address?" Reading to answer a question keeps your attention active and makes it easier to pick out the main points.

Also ask why the text matters for your course or assignment. That purpose tells you what to read closely and what to skim.

Highlighting everything makes nothing stand out. Mark only the key claim, the evidence, and anything you disagree with or do not understand, and write a few words in the margin saying why.

After each section or chapter, close the text and write two or three sentences on what it said. If you cannot, read that part again. This step does more for memory than a second read-through.

Keep these summaries with your notes, so you can review the argument of a reading in a minute rather than rereading it.

Not every text deserves the same attention. Core readings for your assignment deserve a careful pass, while background material can be skimmed for what you need. Setting a time limit for each reading keeps you from getting stuck on one dense page.