Internet Academy Resources

Setting the Purpose for Reading

What is the Purpose of the selection you are going to read?

• Effective readers figure out the purpose for their reading; is it for information about history or science; is it for information about putting a bike together, or making a plate of tacos; is it an advertisement for new shoes, a newspaper or magazine article; is it for simple, pure, enjoyable, pleasure?
• They look at the material to find out what it is about, how long it is, and how it is organized (might be simply several paragraphs, or organized into chapters, some even with sub-headings).

How will figuring out the Purpose ahead of time help me in my reading?

Setting the purpose for your reading, and checking out the organization of the material is like looking at a map before you drive somewhere new to you. It helps you to know where you will be going and how you are going to get there. It creates expectations in your brain, and that means you will be thinking ahead. Remember that prior knowledge is a strong learning tool to connect something you already know about with new learning. Setting the purpose gives you prior knowledge and a road map!

How to Set the Purpose:

Take a few minutes and look at what you will be reading. On a piece of notebook paper, answer these questions:

• Read the title. Is it fiction? Non-fiction? Newspaper headline? Textbook information? Is there an opinion implied? An attitude?
• What is your first thought about the content of the reading material?
• Why did the author write this selection? To persuade, to inform, to entertain?
• Look through the reading selection. Check for Chapter titles, headings, sub-headings. Skim for words. You will pick up some key phrases that guide your ideas about what you will read. Do you now have a better idea about the content of the reading selection?
• Write a couple sentences describing what you expect to read in the selected reading. What clues help you to come to your conclusions?
• After you are finished reading, think about your pre-reading strategy of "Setting the Purpose." How did it help you map out the reading ahead of time? Did you feel you knew where you were going, where the reading selection was going? Write a couple sentences describing the effect on your reading of "Setting the Purpose."
• Try this with your independent reading. Try it with your school reading. It is especially helpful when reading textbook material.